Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Pont Beddgelert
Beddgelert, Gwynedd, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Beddgelert, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, designated on 29 April 1952.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 29 April 1952
- Locality
- Beddgelert
- Town
- Caernarfon
- Community
- Beddgelert
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.01180, -4.10273
- Cadw reference
- 3676
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 LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1795 map "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · Sheet 7. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1899 · 119 Snowdon (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Spanning the Afon Colwyn in the centre of the village.
History
There was presumably a bridge in this location already before the Dissolution, giving access to the Augustinian priory of Beddgelert from the northern side of the river. By 1623 the bridge was recorded as being in need of repair and was repaired and widened again in 1778. Much of the bridge appears to have been swept away in a flood of 1799 and was again repaired and doubled in width between 1802 and 1811. In the latter year a toll was established on the bridge for the turnpike road. Further repairs were carried out c1890 and in 1906.
Exterior
Triple-arched rubble road bridge, doubled in width on the downstream side; set on a cobbled plinth-raft, projecting beyond the bridge proper on both up- and downstream sides. Rough-dressed voussoirs to segmental arches, with narrow stones forming projecting arch-rings. The central arch is the largest, with a slightly smaller N arch and a small flood-arch to the S. The carriageway is gently humped to the centre and on each side is a refuge contained within a triangular cutwater. Long slatestone capping stones to rubble parapets, splayed at the approaches. On the inner downstream splay at the N end are inset milestones of incised slate, probably late C19 or early C20. That on the L is inscribed: 'To Penygwryd 7; to Llanberis 13, to Capel Curig ..[indistinct]'. That to the R is inscribed: 'To Portmadoc Miles 7 1/2.
On the N side of the bridge the splayed parapets continue beyond the approaches as low rubble walls; these run parallel with the river on both sides with rough coping stones and extend for approximately 100m, with an average road-side height of 0.60m and a reveted river-side height of approximately 3m. In the angle with the bridge on the downstream side is a squinch. The downstream S side also adjoins a (rebuilt) rubble wall, which extends for a similar distance at an average height of 1m.
Reason for designation
Listed for its special interest as a road bridge of sub-medieval origin in a prominent location in the village centre.
Group value with other listed items in Beddgelert village centre.
Nearby in the register
- Prince Llewelyn HotelCommercialunder 1 mi
- Waterloo House (Beddgelert Antiques and Tea Rooms)Domesticunder 1 mi
- Colwyn Guest HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Llewelyn Cottage (also known as Ty Isaf)Domesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.