Tramroad bridge over Skewen Cutting, Tennant Canal (partly in Coedffranc community)

Cadw's description

Location

Spanning the Tennant Canal to SE of Skewen village on the E side of a minor road from Neath Abbey Industrial Estate and N of the A465.

History

The Tennant Canal was built 1820-4, engineered by William Kirkhouse. The head of the canal was at Aberdulais, where it joins the Neath Canal, and ended at Port Tennant on the E side of the River Tawe in Swansea. Traffic was carried on the canal until the 1930s. Skewen Cutting is a stone-lined bed and laid in 1821 to counter problems with quicksand. The bridge is probably contemporary with the cutting and is shown on the 1844 Tithe map. It was used to carry coal to the nearby Mines Royal Copper Works.

Exterior

Tramroad bridge, high rubble stone over a segmental arch with tooled voussoirs. The abutments and parapet curve outwards at the ends, the latter having renewed concrete copings. A battered revetment is added to the SW jamb of the arch. The flat deck, built for a single track, is laid with concrete.

Reason for designation

Listed for industrial archaeological interest as an early tramroad bridge and for group value with other listed items associated with the Tennant Canal. Scheduled Ancient Monument GM394.