Hen Bont, Pont-Erwyd

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 a bridge, dating to the medieval or post-medieval period. Ponterwyd Old Bridge is a road bridge over the Afon Rheidol, probably built in the later 18th century. A new bridge to the south was built when the new turnpike road to Llangurig was built in 1812. The old bridge’s narrow humped profile makes it one of the most distinctive bridges of the county. Built of rubble stone, it has a fine broad single arch, 15.5m span, with stone voussoirs and a thin crown to the arch. The rubble parapets have end-on stone copings, each side of narrow roadway of 2.4m width.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of xmedieval or post-medieval construction techniques and transportation systems. 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.

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