Neath River swing bridge (partly in Neath and Briton Ferry Communities)

Cadw's description

Location

Spanning the River Neath approximately 1km S of Skewen village.

History

The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway was incorporated in 1882 but was not completed until 1900, the original plans having been extensively modified. The line between Neath and Swansea, crossing the River Neath, was authorised in 1892. The bridge was built 1892-4 with a swing portion of 52 metres and a gross weight of 1422 tonnes. The chief engineer was S.W. Yockney, the resident engineer was F.E. Goldwyre and the contractor was George Palmer. Steelwork was supplied by Finch & Co of Chepstow. It was originally hydraulically operated, the machinery supplied by William Armstrong of Newcastle, but is now fixed.

Exterior

The slightly curved plate-girder deck has 5 fixed spans on round steel cylinders sunk into the river bed. The central movable span comprises a parabolic lattice girder truss with Pratt truss diagonal members. The structure rests on a cast iron roller race containing the operating mechanism which is carried on smaller steel cylinders.

Reason for designation

Listed for industrial archaeological interest as the only oblique swing bridge in Britain.