Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Pont Blaen (partly in Ysbyty Ystwyth community)
Pontarfynach, Ceredigion, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Cwmystwyth, Aberystwyth, Pontarfynach, Ceredigion, designated on 16 March 2005.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 16 March 2005
- Locality
- Cwmystwyth
- Town
- Aberystwyth
- Community
- Pontarfynach
- Unitary authority
- Ceredigion
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.36451, -3.72452
- Cadw reference
- 84263
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
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 179 Rhyader (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 14. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Carrying the B4574 across the Afon Ystwyth In a remote location some 4.1km NE of Cwmystwyth village.
History
Road bridge over the Ystwyth built for Thomas Johnes of Hafod in 1783 to designs of Thomas Baldwin of Bath. It may have been reconstructed since, retaining the C18 carved arms of Thomas Johnes, as the stonework looks C19. Illustrated by Joseph Singer as Pont Blean, also known as Pont Blaenycwm. It was described by Malkin in 1804: 'The stone bridge over the Istwid, which must strike the most unobservant passenger, from the contrast of its elegant proportions with the shapelessness of every surrounding object, was built by Mr Johnes for the accommodation of the public'.
The road through Cwmystwyth was the main road from Aberystwyth to London before the construction of the present A44 in the early C19.
Exterior
Road bridge, squared rubble stone, with flush cut-stone voussoirs to single shallow arch. Rubble parapets each with flat coping each side of raised centre block with string course under ashlar top coping. Outer faces of raised sections are Bath stone ashlar coat of arms of Thomas Johnes, chevron and three birds, with festoons each side.
Reason for designation
Included as a small road bridge with finely carved armorial plaques and for association with Thomas Johnes of Hafod.
Nearby in the register
- Pont Blaen (partly in the Pontarfynach community)Transportunder 1 mi
- Outbuilding at Ty-llwydAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Ty-llwydDomesticunder 1 mi
- Ffos Gau Ring CairnRing Cairn1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.