Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Pontrhydyfen Viaduct
Cwmavon, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Pontrhydyfen, Port Talbot, Cwmavon, Neath Port Talbot, designated on 21 March 2000.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 21 March 2000
- Locality
- Pontrhydyfen
- Town
- Port Talbot
- Community
- Cwmavon
- Unitary authority
- Neath Port Talbot
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.63297, -3.74543
- Cadw reference
- 23024
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 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 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)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Long viaduct spanning the Afan valley where the river curves round towards the S, and the road which leads from Cwmavon to Pontrhydyfen.
History
Built as part of a branch line by the Port Talbot Railway and Docks Co. to link the docks with the coal producing areas to the N. The viaduct crosses the Afan valley, beyond which the line joined the South Wales Mineral Railway. It was constructed in 1897-8 by the contractors Topham, Jones and Railton, and was absorbed soon afterwards by the GWR. It closed in 1964.
Exterior
Ten-arch railway viaduct of red brick, curving round slightly towards the NW. Tall round arches on narrow splayed piers, the arches consisting of 6 rows of headers on edge. Short abutments at either end. Blue brick string course and red brick parapets with corbelled refuges rising from the spandrels of the arches. The coping is generally of blue bricks on end, replaced in concrete in some areas. The flat deck is now a path and the refuges have been infilled with blue brick with concrete coping. At each end of the deck are pairs of short piers marking the abutments. These and the areas between have massive rock-faced capstones.
Reason for designation
Listed as a largely unaltered viaduct of architectural merit which is highly visible and imparts considerable character to the area. The association with Port Talbot docks is of additional historic interest. Group value with Bont Fawr aqueduct.
Nearby in the register
- Jerusalem ChapelReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Bethel ChapelReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Bont Fawr Aqueduct (partly in Pelenna Community)Transportunder 1 mi
- Pont Fawr Aqueduct / ViaductAqueductunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.