Brynich Aqueduct (Brecknock & Abergavenny Canal)

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of the remains of an aqueduct, dating to the industrial period, which carries the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal across the river Usk. It was built by Thomas Dadford Jnr between 1799 and 1800. It is built from coursed red sandstone rubble, with high quality ashlar cutwaters. It comprises four spans, with rounded arches, turned with two rings of voussiors of dressed blocks with a third ring of longer slabs. The cutwaters are pointed in plan and chamfered at the tops. The channel of the canal narrows to 3.6m across the bridge and there are towpaths each side. There is an overflow weir at the S end and stop plank grooves at each end to allow the aqueduct to be drained for maintenance.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of industrial engineering and technology. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques, together with a strong probability of environmental evidence. Aqueducts may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.