Rhandirmwyn Bridge (partly in Cilycwm community), Cilycwm (Cil-y-cwm), Carmarthenshire

Coordinates

Latitude: 52.0871 / 52°5'13"N

Longitude: -3.8001 / 3°48'0"W

OS Eastings: 276761

OS Northings: 244718

OS Grid: SN767447

Mapcode National: GBR Y4.BN1L

Mapcode Global: VH5DJ.2SXY

Plus Code: 9C4R35PX+RX

Entry Name: Rhandirmwyn Bridge (partly in Cilycwm community)

Listing Date: 14 December 2018

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 87777

Building Class: Transport

ID on this website: 300087777

Location: Crossing the River Towy approx. 2km NW of the village of Rhandirmwyn

County: Carmarthenshire

Community: Cilycwm (Cil-y-cwm)

Community: Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn

Traditional County: Carmarthenshire

History

Built 1913 as a replacement for two fords and a footbridge across the River Towy at a point on its upper reaches where it is joined by the Gwenffrwd river. A new section of road was built to the NE at the same time (replacing the path from the footbridge) to the farm of Broncwrt and then joining the road from Rhandirmwyn. Designed by HA Ellis Engineer of Swansea and built by Rees & Kirby Ltd of Morriston using a Warren Truss design. The Warren Truss had been patented by James Warren and Willoughby Theobald Monzani in 1848 and enabled bridges to be strong and light using lighter weight elements in its construction and ideal for modular prefabricated bridges. Rhandirmwyn bridge would have been fabricated in Swansea and transported to its remote location (probably by train to Llandovery) in kit form, or possibly partially assembled, and then finally constructed in situ.

Exterior

Road bridge, steel construction of Warren type truss girders with rigid joints and 3 braced cross beams. Tarmac surface to the road deck, deck supported by cross beams. Cast plate at end ‘RHANDIRMWYN BRDIGE 1913 – H.A. Ellis SWANSEA ENGINEER – REES & KIRBY LTD MORRISTON BRIDGE BUILDERS’. Stone roadside curtain walls with piers and brick dressings attached to both NE and SW sides.

Reasons for Listing

Included for its special architectural interest as a rare example of a Warren Truss bridge, an unusual type of steel road bridge. Its form of construction using lightweight prefabricated components is well suited to the remote location of the upper Towy valley. It is also of historic importance as an example of an improvement to road transport in a rural area of Wales.

External Links

Cadwr Listing

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

II Rhandirmwyn Bridge (partly in Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn community)
Crossing the River Towy approx. 2km NW of the village of Rhandirmwyn
II Broncwrt
Situated some 600m NW of Nant-y-Bai, to the left of the road leading to Llyn Brianne. Stone walled farmyard to right of house, with L-shaped farm ranges.
II Nant y Bai Mill
At Nant-y-Bai, below and to the left of the road leading to Llyn Brianne.
II Capel Salem
Situated down drive off the road leading to Llyn Brianne, NW of the centre of Rhandirmwyn.
II Ty'r Ysgol
Situated approximately 450m NE of the crossroads at the centre of Rhandirmwyn.
II Troedrhiwbeynon
Situated on S side of Gwenffrwd valley on road from Rhandirmwyn to Cwrtycadno, some 1.5 km NW of Rhandirmwyn Bridge.
II Cowshed at Troedrhiwbeynon
Situated on S side of Gwenffrwd valley on road from Rhandirmwyn to Cwrtycadno, some 1.5 km NW of Rhandirmwyn Bridge.
II Church of St Barnabas
Situated in Rhandirmwyn some 300m W of the crossroads in the village centre.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Rhandirmwyn Bridge (partly in Cilycwm community)

A Grade II Listed Building in Cilycwm (Cil-y-cwm), Carmarthenshire