Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Railway bridge on NE side of Railway Tavern
Tonna, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Aberdulais, Tonna, Neath Port Talbot, designated on 25 February 2000.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 25 February 2000
- Locality
- Aberdulais
- Community
- Tonna
- Unitary authority
- Neath Port Talbot
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.67898, -3.77510
- Cadw reference
- 22863
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Sheet 10. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. . (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1897 · 247 Swansea (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
On the NE side of Railway Tavern N of Dulais Fach Road and S of Aberdulais Basin.
History
The Vale of Neath Railway was incorporated in 1846 and opened in 1851. Engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the line was built to a broad gauge. The bridge, one of the few stone bridges original to the railway, was built partly over a navigable channel cut in the late C18 from the River Neath to a forge, later the Aberdulais tinplate works. A tramway connecting to Upper and Lower Works of the Aberdulais Tinplate works also passed beneath the bridge.
Exterior
A 2-bay bridge constructed of coursed hammer-dressed sandstone, with round arches. A thin coping is above, although the original parapet, probably of iron railings, is now missing. Battered abutments are splayed outwards and retain an embankment. The deck was designed to carry a double broad-gauge track, but now carries a single track.
Reason for designation
Listed for its industrial archaeological interest as a fine masonry bridge associated with Brunel's original Vale of Neath Railway, and for group value with other listed canal and railway items at Aberdulais Basin.
Nearby in the register
- Canal Boat at Aberdulais BasinCanal Boatunder 1 mi
- Aberdulais Aqueduct (partly in Blaenhonddan community)Communicationsunder 1 mi
- Aberdulais Viaduct (partly in Blaenrhonddan community)Transportunder 1 mi
- Aberdulais AqueductAqueductunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.