Britannia Bridge

Cadw's description

Location

At the N end of the harbour and standing between the town centre and the Cob.

History

Built 1808-11 contemporary with the Great Embankment (The Cob), William Madocks' grand scheme to reclaim Traeth Mawr for agricultural land, and to carry a road on Madocks' proposed London-Dublin postal route. Construction was probably supervised by John Williams, agent to Madocks. The bridge acted as a tidal sluice, and retains its slots for tidal gates.

Exterior

A double-carriageway 5-bay bridge, of large blocks of squared local stone laid in regular courses. The original construction is best observed on the N (landward) side. Segmental arches have freestone voussoirs, and keystones recessed. Prominent rounded cutwaters retain slots for tidal gates, and above them are shallow buttresses carried up to a raised band at the base of the parapet. The parapet spanning the river is C20, of coursed slate-stone. Above the abutments the original parapet has survived, which is lower, and curves out to round terminal piers, which on the E side abuts Bridge Cottage. On the S (harbour) side the bridge has been extended by widening of the deck to accommodate a footway, which is supported on the cutwaters. These cutwaters also retain slots for tidal gates. The C20 parapet is similar to the parapet on the N side.

Reason for designation

Listed, notwithstanding later widening, as an integral component of William Madocks' grand reclamation scheme, as represented by the Cob, and for its contribution to the historical integrity of the harbour. The bridge retains important evidence for its original design and construction.