Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Clydach Brook aqueduct over former Vale of Neath Railway
Resolven, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 15 December 2003
- Locality
- Resolven
- Town
- Neath
- Community
- Resolven
- Unitary authority
- Neath Port Talbot
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.71089, -3.69415
- Cadw reference
- 82270
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
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
Situated in the centre of Resolven just NE and parallel with the road bridge carrying Commercial Road over the former Vale of Neath railway.
History
Cast iron aqueduct built 1849 by the George Hennet Bridgewater Ironworks to carry the Clydach Brook over the Vale of Neath Railway broad gauge double track. The Act for the railway from Neath to Aberdare (with a branch to Merthyr) was passed in 1846 and construction began shortly after with I K Brunel as the engineer. The line to Aberdare was opened to goods and passengers in 1851 and the Merthyr branch from Gelli Tarw Junction in 1853.
Exterior
Aqueduct, cast iron, with 6 main 'fish-bellied' beams. The outer two are I-section and the inner four inverted T-section, with a bulbed compression flange. Floor-plates rest on each pair of beams. Panelled sides with 'George Hennet Bridgewater Ironworks A.D. 1849' on the NE side. The aqueduct has rusticated Pennant sandstone abutments each with 3 blind arches recessed into the face. The downstream bed of the aqueduct has a ramp of squared Pennant sandstone blocks.
Reason for designation
Listed for its special historic interest as a substantial cast iron aqueduct over a railway designed by Brunel, the renowned Victorian engineer.
Nearby in the register
- Bridge over former Vale of Neath RailwayTransportunder 1 mi
- Jerusalem Independent ChapelReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Pant y GelliDomesticunder 1 mi
- Farmer's Arms aqueduct over the Neath CanalWater Supply and Drainageunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.