Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
'Roman Bridge' over the Afon Glaslyn
Beddgelert, Gwynedd, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Nant Glaslyn, Caernarfon, Beddgelert, Gwynedd, designated on 29 May 1968.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 29 May 1968
- Locality
- Nant Glaslyn
- Town
- Caernarfon
- Community
- Beddgelert
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.05463, -4.01762
- Cadw reference
- 3743
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 Glaslyn immediatly NE of Llyn Gwynant.
History
Vernacular clapper bridge, probably built in the early C16 to serve the new house of Wenallt. This house, of which now only the footings survive, was built by Cadwaladr ap Meredudd, son of Merededd ap Ieuan ap Robert, builder of Gwydir Castle and founder of the Wynn dynasty. It is possible that the bridge originally had wooden decking on its boulder platforms and that the terminating piers on the house side held a gate or possibly even a drawbridge mechanism.
Exterior
Vernacular 3-span clapper footbridge, the southern-most span and associated boulder-built ramp being modern. Irregular boulder platforms with crude cutwaters to both the up- and downstream stream sides; cyclopean slate-stone slabs form the bridging sections of the two northern-most spans. At the N end are rubble piers flanking a modern gate. The bridge has an overall length of approximately 20m.
Reason for designation
Listed for its special interest as an early vernacular bridge in the locality.
Nearby in the register
- Agricultural Range W of Hafod LwyfogAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Hafod LwyfogDomesticunder 1 mi
- Hafod-y-Rhisk (or Hafod Rhisgl)Domesticunder 1 mi
- Gwastad Annas (Old House)Domesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.