Old Bridge, Pontypridd
Encyclopedia
The Old Bridge which is now also known as the William Edwards Bridge or Pontypridd Bridge, was originally known as the New Bridge or Newbridge, it is an arched
single-span footbridge
that spans the River Taff
at Pontypridd
in Wales
. The bridge was built by William Edwards
and was completed in 1756. The bridge now has statutory protection as a scheduled ancient monument.
. Pont-y-tŷ-pridd took its name from the original bridge of the same name,
however very little is known of that ancient ford
with stepping stones, which ran along side the current Old Bridge, and was used only when the river ran low. Possibly in 1744 or after the bridge was built, Pont-y-tŷ-pridd became known as Newbridge or New Bridge after the William Edwards' Bridge.
By 1856, Newbridge had been renamed Pontypridd.
In 1746 when William Edwards was just 27 years of age, he was commissioned by the Hundreds of Miskin and Caerphilly to build a three-arch bridge across the River Taff. For this he was paid the sum of GB£500, on condition that he would maintain it for seven years.
have a contemporary works known as the Plasybrain manuscript which says that, "Just after the first single arch was finished and before the centre was struck, a flood came and carried all away." It is not clear which one of these two accounts is the accurate one, however it is clear that Edwards' latest attempted to build a bridge cross the River Taff had yet again ended in failure.
The final design of the bridge included three cylindrical voids (holes) of 2.7 m (8.9 ft), 1.7 m (5.6 ft) and 1.1 m (3.6 ft) on each side on the bridge. This reduced the weight and pressure on the crown and the bridge is still in operation today, however it can only be used by pedestrians. The Theory of Arches and Pontypridd, states that as a bridge, the bridge was a failure, as it was "only eleven feet wide between the parapets and so steep that wagons had to use a 'chain and drag' to descend from the crown.
The 140 ft Old Bridge surpassed the 130 ft (39.6 m) Old Walton Bridge
as the longest single span bridge in Great Britain
and remained the longest bridge for another 40 years. It was also one of the few bridges in Europe, and indeed worldwide, whose span exceeded the 40 m mark.
The whole project (including the three failed attempts) cost the architect a total of £1,153 18s. 2d. (approximately £1,153.91), and consequently he made a loss of over £600. It was reported that Edwards' attempts to build the bridge over the River Taff left him in a considerable amount of debt and Thomas Morgan reported that "…the mason was considerably in debt and greatly discouraged. But the Lords Talbot and Windsor, who have estates in the neighbourhood pitied his case, and being willing to encourage such an enterprising genius, most generously promoted a subscription among the gentry in those parts."
to go across it. By 1857, a new bridge, the Victoria Bridge, was built next to the Old Bridge, which was paid for by the people of Pontypridd. The Victoria Bridge is a three-arch bridge, that was built by Thomas Jenkins, this overcame many of the problems with the steepness of the Old Bridge.
Since the bridge was opened in 1756, it has become the subject for many landscape
artists, including Richard Wilson
and Turner
.
The Old Bridge is now a scheduled monument and is also depicted depicted in two emblems of local rugby union
teams; Pontypridd RFC
and Cilfynydd RFC
. Artist Lulu Quinn was commissioned by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
to illuminate the Old Bridge as part of a regeneration programme for Pontypridd called the Monument Illumination Scheme. Initial tests to illuminate the bridge took place on 19 August 2008, and the project has subsequently been officially launched after the tests were successful.
, and Cilfynydd Rugby Football Club
. The community-to-community organisation PONT (Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust), also bases its logo upon the Bridge. Pontypridd High School in Cilfynydd incorporates the bridge design into the school shield, as does Pontypridd Town Council with its logo representing the south Wales Valleys
and a section of the Old Bridge in the foreground. Pontypridd Male Voice Choir
also incorporates the Old Bridge in the choir logo.
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
single-span footbridge
Footbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
that spans the River Taff
River Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
at Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The bridge was built by William Edwards
William Edwards (architect)
William Edwards was a Welsh Methodist minister who also practised as a stonemason, architect and bridge engineer....
and was completed in 1756. The bridge now has statutory protection as a scheduled ancient monument.
Pontypridd
In the early 18th century Pontypridd, then known as Pont-y-tŷ-pridd (The bridge of the earthen house), was a tiny hamletHamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
. Pont-y-tŷ-pridd took its name from the original bridge of the same name,
however very little is known of that ancient ford
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
with stepping stones, which ran along side the current Old Bridge, and was used only when the river ran low. Possibly in 1744 or after the bridge was built, Pont-y-tŷ-pridd became known as Newbridge or New Bridge after the William Edwards' Bridge.
By 1856, Newbridge had been renamed Pontypridd.
In 1746 when William Edwards was just 27 years of age, he was commissioned by the Hundreds of Miskin and Caerphilly to build a three-arch bridge across the River Taff. For this he was paid the sum of GB£500, on condition that he would maintain it for seven years.
The first bridge
The first bridge to be constructed was a three-arch stone bridge, which was built in 1746. It was destroyed by a heavy storm which caused the River Taff to flood about two years later. A large amount of debris came down the river, which then become trapped against the two abutments supporting the bridge. The weight and force of the debris ultimately destroyed the bridge, which was then swept away down the river.The second bridge
After the destruction of the first bridge over the fast flowing River Taff, William Edwards decided to design a much more radical 140 ft (42.7 m) single-arch bridge that would eliminate the possibility of debris destroying the bridge due to the flooding of the River Taff. The second bridge was built from 1748, however two reports differ as to what actually happened during this second attempt to build the bridge. Thomas Morgan, contemporary of Edwards, said that "…when he (William Edwards) had almost finished the arch; the centre timber work gave way and all fell to the bottom." However, The National Library of WalesNational Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
have a contemporary works known as the Plasybrain manuscript which says that, "Just after the first single arch was finished and before the centre was struck, a flood came and carried all away." It is not clear which one of these two accounts is the accurate one, however it is clear that Edwards' latest attempted to build a bridge cross the River Taff had yet again ended in failure.
The third bridge
The single-arch bridge was rebuilt and was actually finished. It stood for a period of about six weeks before again it collapsed because the new bridge was not balanced, which forced the keystone out, which once again caused the bridge to collapse. In the Theory of Arches and Pontypridd, it states that "the weight of the bridge was either too great on the haunches or too little on the crown." At this stage Edwards was either encouraged or forced to try again with extra money being provided to cover his losses for the earlier attempts.The fourth bridge
The 140 ft Old Bridge surpassed the 130 ft (39.6 m) Old Walton Bridge
Old Walton Bridge
Old Walton Bridge is the name given to the first Walton Bridge built across the River Thames at Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, England. The wooden bridge was completed in 1750 and stood until 1783 when it was dismantled to make way for a brickwork replacement....
as the longest single span bridge in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and remained the longest bridge for another 40 years. It was also one of the few bridges in Europe, and indeed worldwide, whose span exceeded the 40 m mark.
The whole project (including the three failed attempts) cost the architect a total of £1,153 18s. 2d. (approximately £1,153.91), and consequently he made a loss of over £600. It was reported that Edwards' attempts to build the bridge over the River Taff left him in a considerable amount of debt and Thomas Morgan reported that "…the mason was considerably in debt and greatly discouraged. But the Lords Talbot and Windsor, who have estates in the neighbourhood pitied his case, and being willing to encourage such an enterprising genius, most generously promoted a subscription among the gentry in those parts."
Subsequent history
The problem with the Old Bridge was that it was so steep that it made it very difficult to get horse cartsCart
A cart is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by one or a pair of draught animals. A handcart is pulled or pushed by one or more people...
to go across it. By 1857, a new bridge, the Victoria Bridge, was built next to the Old Bridge, which was paid for by the people of Pontypridd. The Victoria Bridge is a three-arch bridge, that was built by Thomas Jenkins, this overcame many of the problems with the steepness of the Old Bridge.
Since the bridge was opened in 1756, it has become the subject for many landscape
Landscape art
Landscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still...
artists, including Richard Wilson
Richard Wilson (painter)
Richard Wilson was a Welsh landscape painter, and one of the founder members of the Royal Academy in 1768. Wilson has been described as '...the most distinguished painter Wales has ever produced and the first to appreciate the aesthetic possibilities of his country.' He is considered to be the...
and Turner
J. M. W. Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner RA was an English Romantic landscape painter, watercolourist and printmaker. Turner was considered a controversial figure in his day, but is now regarded as the artist who elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivalling history painting...
.
The Old Bridge is now a scheduled monument and is also depicted depicted in two emblems of local rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
teams; Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
and Cilfynydd RFC
Cilfynydd RFC
Cilfynydd Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based in Cilfynydd in Pontypridd, Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues..-Club badge:...
. Artist Lulu Quinn was commissioned by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council is the governing body for Rhondda Cynon Taf, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council headquarters are located in the town of Tonypandy.- Current composition :- Historic results :...
to illuminate the Old Bridge as part of a regeneration programme for Pontypridd called the Monument Illumination Scheme. Initial tests to illuminate the bridge took place on 19 August 2008, and the project has subsequently been officially launched after the tests were successful.
Bridge imagery
Representations of William Edwards' Bridge can be seen in local heraldic and civic stationery, including the crest of Pontypridd Rugby Football ClubPontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
, and Cilfynydd Rugby Football Club
Cilfynydd RFC
Cilfynydd Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based in Cilfynydd in Pontypridd, Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues..-Club badge:...
. The community-to-community organisation PONT (Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust), also bases its logo upon the Bridge. Pontypridd High School in Cilfynydd incorporates the bridge design into the school shield, as does Pontypridd Town Council with its logo representing the south Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
and a section of the Old Bridge in the foreground. Pontypridd Male Voice Choir
Côr Meibion Pontypridd
Côr Meibion Pontypridd is a Welsh male voice choir from the Pontypridd area of the South Wales Valleys in the United Kingdom.-Background:Côr Meibion Pontypridd was formed in 1949 for traditional Welsh singing.The choir performs frequently both in Pontypridd and overseas, and has visited Poland,...
also incorporates the Old Bridge in the choir logo.
External links
- A paper by T G Hughes MSc, PhD, CEng, FICE celebrating the 250th anniversary of the construction of the William Edwards Bridge, Pontypridd, UK
- The Theory of Arches and Pontypridd
- Three-dimensional centrifuge test of Pontypridd Bridge
- The History of the Old Bridge
- Pontypridd Male Voice Choir - About Pontypridd