Pair of Inscribed Stones in Union Bridge Parapet

Exterior

History: The history of the bridge is recorded on the 2 stone panels: "Union Bridge Built 1817 on the happy Union of the Powis and Wynnstay Families at the expense of the Fund for the Employment of the Poor Under the direction of the acting Committee of Welshpool"; and "The inscribed stone above [now alongside], originally inserted in the opposite parapet, was refixed in its present position by the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway Company, January 1902". The bridge formerly carried the road over the Lledan Brook, but this was culverted (presumably by the Railway Company in 1902), leaving only a single parapet as a memorial. The railway company, established in 1898, opened the line in 1903. It was finally closed in 1956. The bridge parapet has again been rebuilt since 1981, re-siting both stone panels alongside, rather than over, each other.

Description: Red engineering brick parapet with rounded stone copings. The 2 stone panels were formerly one above the other, with the coping stepped up over them, but are now alongside each other.

The parapet has been partially rebuilt since it was first listed in 1981, but remains listed for the historical interest as recorded in the 2 stone panels.

Reference: Ralph Cartwright and R.T.Russell, The Welshpool and Llanfair Railway, 1972.