Tramroad Bridge, Bailey's Tramroad, Govilon

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 tramroad bridge on the line of Bailey's tramroad. The tramroad was built around 1822 between Crawshay Bailey's ironworks at Nantyglo and the Brecon to Abergavenny Canal near Llanfoist. It crossed the steep valley of Cwm Llanwenarth by a loop following the contour of the valley. When the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny branch of the London and North-Western Railway was built in 1862-4 this loop was short-circuited by a railway viaduct across the neck of the valley (the LNWR otherwise following the line of the earlier tramroad). The tramroad bridge is a simple single arched structure of excellent quality ashlar masonry. The springings of the arch are set back from the jambs leaving a step, a feature not uncommon on early 19th century industrial structures.

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.