Yr Hen Bont - Satellite Oddity - Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
N 51° 36.306 W 003° 20.272
30U E 476601 N 5717171
The Old Bridge Pontypridd (Welsh: Yr Hen Bont) Featured on the Virtual Globetrotting, Satellite Oddity Website. It was the Worlds longest single span stone bridge, when built in 1756. The arched footbridge spans the River Taff, South Wales
Waymark Code: WMRW8B
Location: South Wales, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/11/2016
Views: 1
"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 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 (43 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 Wales 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.
When built was known as the New Bridge, its now known Worldwide by Architects as the 'The Old Bridge Pontypridd'.
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 (40 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.[5] 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." Text Source :- (
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Length of bridge: 140 feet - Height of bridge: 34 feet