Barmouth Railway Bridge (partly in Arthog Community)

Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales

A Grade II* listed building in Barmouth Bridge, Barmouth, Gwynedd, designated on 22 March 1988.

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913) covering the location of Barmouth Railway Bridge (partly in Arthog Community), Gwynedd, with a pin at the register's coordinates — Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Designation: Listed building, Grade II*
Broad class: Transport
Date of designation: 22 March 1988
Locality: Barmouth Bridge
Community: Barmouth
Unitary authority: Gwynedd
Country: Wales
Coordinates: 52.71934, -4.04525
Cadw reference: 5207

TodayHistorical map

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David 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 · 149 Barmouth (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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This record in Cadw's own full report ↗

Cadw's description

Location

Long viaduct spanning the Mawddach estuary immediately to the S of Barmouth and crossing into Arthog Community.

History

The Barmouth railway bridge was designed by Benjamin Piercy, engineer to the Cambrian Railways, and was opened in June 1867. It was rebuilt in stages from 1899-1909 by the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company of Darlington and by Abraham Williams, contractor of Aberdovey. Extensive repairs were carried out between 1981-5.

Exterior

Single-track railway viaduct (751 yards long) with 113 groups of timber supports (pile bents) and 5-span steel section incorporating a swing bridge (built 1899) towards the N (Barmouth) end. Rubble-faced abutment to N shore; concrete to S end. Low trabeated structure with longitudinal timbers supporting main timber deck and rails; cross-braced timber piles with raking shores supported by concrete foundations. Strapped steel cylinders to 2-lane opening section with twin bow-trussed girders tied over track; twin column supports with bulbous caps (wider to opening piers), metal deckand latticework braces. Lower boarded pedestrian walkway with modernrailing on upstream side (an addition of 1868-79).

Reason for designation

Listed grade II* as the only major timber-built viaduct still in use by British Rail.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Designated Historic Asset GIS Data, The Welsh Historic Environment Service (Cadw), 2026-09-07, licensed under the Open Government Licence http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Cadw, the Welsh Historic Environment Service · Open Government Licence v3.0

All Transport in Gwynedd All Unitary authority Gwynedd records All Wales Heritage registers Historical markers (US)National Register of Historic Places (US)

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