Plate-Girder Bridge

Cadw's description

Location

Spanning the River Afan just upstream of the navigable section and set at an angle to the river. Roads and tracks branch out to the E to buildings on the wharfside.

History

Two-carriageway road bridge dated 1903. It was built following major development of Port Talbot docks in the late 1890s, and provided the main access to the docks from Aberavon and the W side of the river. The approach road to the W is labelled Newbridge Road (B4286) on the Ordnance Survey of 1939. It is now pedestrianised.

Exterior

Long 3-arch plate-girder bridge with wide deck. The piers and abutments are of snecked stone, the piers continuing as cut-waters. Angled abutments with quoins and concrete copings. The parapets are divided into 3 sections, one to each arch. Each section contains 1 row of riveted wrought iron plates under a top rail which curves down at the ends. The gap between each section is infilled with narrow iron railings with fleur-de-lis finials. The parapets of the central section are slightly raised and have a narrow top rail. An oval iron plaque is mounted in the centre of the S face but is not decipherable. The flanking sections have heavy riveted top rails. Open iron handrails are mounted on the parapets. These have circular posts, top rail and mid rail and small ball finials. The abutments, which continue into the river banks, support similar railings. The ends of the bridge are marked by large square stone piers with moulded arched capstones with margin drafting. The S piers support large decorative iron vases with finials (those to N piers may be missing). A large stone tablet is mounted on the inside face of the NW pier. It reads 'This bridge was erected by the Aberavon Corporation and opened by Sir Arthur Vivian KCB / October 29 1903 / Engineer, J Roderick / Contractors, Clark & Co. / Major T A Burgess / Town clerk, M Tennant'. A further pier is located at the NE end of the E abutment. The wide 2-carriageway deck has pavements to each side.

Reason for designation

Listed as a finely detailed plate-girder bridge which is unusual at this date for carrying a strategic road rather than a railway. The association with the development of Port Talbot docks is of additional historic interest.