Spudder's Bridge

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 and casueway, dating to the medieval or post-medieval period spanning the River Gwendraeth east of Kidwelly. Probably first built in the second half of the sixteenth century with wing walls added by Thomas Kymer in 1770. It is a single-carriageway rubble-stone bridge of four main spans, steeply ramped to the centre. The piers and abutments have V-shaped cutwaters rising to the parapet to form refuges. Each span has a pointed arch, of which the two central spans are wider and higher. The two southernmost arches span the river; the remaining two are built over floodplain. Further north are two additional low and narrow pointed arches built over the floodplain on the approach to the bridge. The plain parapet continues on the north side, where it forms a field boundary and terminates in a field gate.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval and 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.