History in Structure

Tomb of William Edwards in the churchyard of St Ilan, Eglwysilan

A Grade II* Listed Building in Aber Valley (Cwm Aber), Caerphilly

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.5927 / 51°35'33"N

Longitude: -3.2911 / 3°17'27"W

OS Eastings: 310661

OS Northings: 188995

OS Grid: ST106889

Mapcode National: GBR HS.BWD6

Mapcode Global: VH6DR.X70C

Plus Code: 9C3RHPV5+3H

Entry Name: Tomb of William Edwards in the churchyard of St Ilan, Eglwysilan

Listing Date: 28 June 1999

Last Amended: 28 June 1999

Grade: II*

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 21957

ID on this website: 300021957

Location: On the S side of the nave to SW of the porch, adjacent to path on the W side.

County: Caerphilly

Community: Aber Valley (Cwm Aber)

Community: Aber Valley

Locality: Eglwysilan

Traditional County: Glamorgan

Tagged with: Tomb

Find accommodation in
Pontypridd

History

William Edwards (1719-89) was an Independent Minister and a civil engineer, best known as a builder of bridges. Born at Ty Canol, Eglwysilan, in 1726 he moved to Bryn Tail in the same parish, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was pastor of Groeswen chapel from 1745 until his death. His chief engineering work is Pontypridd bridge of 1746-54, a long single-span stone bridge across the River Taff, but he also built bridges at Usk, Pontardawe, Betws (Glamorgan), Aberavon and Glasbury. Three of his sons, Thomas, David and Edward, also became bridge builders. A fourth son, William, was killed in Gibraltar and is also buried here.

Exterior

Late C18 double chest tomb to William Edwards and his wife. The long sides are plain, the short sides each have 2 fielded panels. Two coping slabs have engravings commemorating William Edwards and his wife (d. 1789) and their son William (d. 1795).

Reasons for Listing

Listed Grade II* for its historic interest as the tomb of one of Wales' foremost nonconformist minsters of the C18 and one of the most eminent British bridge builders and engineers of the period.
Group value with the church and other associated listed items.

External Links

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