Newtown Bridge

Cadw's description

Location

Carries road from Ebbw Vale town centre NE to Newtown, over Steelworks Road. E bridge spans Steelworks Road, W bridge carries lesser road S to The Crescent.

History

The Ebbw Vale Ironworks was established in 1786, with the first furnace built 1790. The arch spanning the river Ebbw was built in 1790, the Big arch following in 1813, both built by the Ebbw Vale Ironworks Company across the valley to carry a horse-powered railway carrying iron ore to the blast furnaces to the SE. The W bridge was originally built of timber, which was rebuilt in stone in 1859: this collapsed, killing two men, and was rebuilt in 1861. Bridges now carry road from the town centre to Newtown. In 1964, a reinforced concrete pedestrian tunnel was built between the bridges.

Exterior

Eastern road arch (Big Arch) built of squared ironstone, with tooled ashlar voussoirs to wide single segmental arch. N side has keystone dated 1813. Eyebrow-like iron ties at keystone level. Arch has two parallel stringcourses above. Short angled cheek revetments each side, built of cut stone in tumbled courses. Upper stage of bridge is narrower, the road carried on a series of yellow brick semi-circular arches visible on the N side (much obscured by overgrowth) and concealed by later concreting on the S side, which is sloped up from the top of the lower stage, presumably for strengthening. Road has been widened on concrete corbels; modern metal rails. Concrete pedestrian tunnel of 1965 between arches.

Western arch, built of rock-faced masonry is narrower, round arched, the arch-ring of yellow brick in five header courses. Keystones dated 1859 with added dates of 1861. Rock-faced imposts, carried on through tunnel. Stringcourse with parapet above; moulded terracotta copings. On S side, bridge has large rubble cheek-revetment to left; very broad shallower smaller revetment to right with sloping cemented top, containing tunnel. On the N side, a very long sloping cheek-revetment to the right, shorter left-hand revetment.

Arch over the Ebbw River at base of deep ravine, obscured by overgrowth.

Reason for designation

Listed as an important survival of the early iron industry in the South Wales Valleys. The impressively constructed eastern arch of the bridge survives as one of the largest early horse-railway bridges in Britain.