Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Ynysmaerdy Incline bridge over Pant Howel Ddu
Briton Ferry, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Pant Howel Ddu, Briton Ferry, Neath Port Talbot, designated on 19 May 2000.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Industrial
- Date of designation
- 19 May 2000
- Locality
- Pant Howel Ddu
- Community
- Briton Ferry
- Unitary authority
- Neath Port Talbot
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.64038, -3.80428
- Cadw reference
- 23303
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
Crossing a minor road to Pant Howel Ddu Farm approximately 1.1km NE of St Clement's church.
History
The South Wales Mineral Railway was incorporated in 1853 for a 13-mile cross-country line from the collieries at Glyncorrwg to the docks at Briton Ferry. The route was laid out by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who was later succeeded by R.P. Brereton. At the Briton Ferry end a double-tracked cable-worked incline 1.5 miles long was required to overcome the steep terrain. The railway opened in 1861 from Briton Ferry to Tonmawr and to Glyncorrwg in 1863. Originally broad gauge, it was converted to standard gauge in 1872. The railway incline was an antiquated concept by the mid C19 and was expensive to operate. The railway was never a financial success, partly due to the vicissitudes of colliery companies in Glyncorrwg who operated the line. In 1908 the line was taken over by the Great Western Railway, who closed the incline in 1910.
Exterior
A deep single-span bridge of snecked, rock-faced sandstone and a round arch with tooled voussoirs. The arch is set at an angle to the road. Its side walls are battered, giving a horseshoe-shaped profile to the bridge. The battered abutments retaining the embankment are built at oblique angles to the bridge and are ramped down to ground level. The bridge and abutments have rock-faced copings. There is no parapet.
Reason for designation
Listed for industrial archaeological interest as a mid C19 railway bridge designed by the office of one of Britain's most influential engineers.
Scheduled Ancient Monument Gm 489.
Nearby in the register
- Ynysmaerdy Railway InclineRailwayunder 1 mi
- Bridge over Ynysmaerdy InclineTransportunder 1 mi
- Carreg Hir Standing Stone, Pen-Rhiw-TynStanding Stoneunder 1 mi
- Salem Baptist ChapelReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.