Abergavenny Bridge

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Abergavenny Bridge
Monmouthshire
Location
Carrying: road traffic
Crossing: River Usk
Location
Location: 51°49’10"N, 3°1’45"W
Structure
Piers: 6(6 in the water)
History
Information

Abergavenny Bridge, (also known as the Usk Bridge), crosses the River Usk at the boundary between Abergavenny and Llanfoist in Monmouthshire. The bridge carries the A4143 road. The bridge is of mediæval origin, but was substantially reconstructed in the early 19th century, to support a tramroad, and in the mid 19th century, when the two bridges were combined.

History

The bridge was originally known as Tudor Bridge, due to the historical tradition that it was built by Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford, who was also Baron Abergavenny.[1] This supports a construction date of the mid-15th century.[2]

The early 19th century tramway, which originally ran parallel to the bridge, was constructed in 1811 by William Crossley.[2] The tramway carried the Llanfihangel Railway from the canal at Llanfoist.[3] In the mid-19th century the bridge and the tramway were combined.[2]

The bridge was the subject of two paintings by J. M. W. Turner dating from the 1790s. The first, Abergavenny Bridge, Monmouthshire, Clearing Up after a Showery Day, is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum[4] The second, entitled Abergavenny Bridge, is held by the Tate but is not exhibited due to deterioration of the paintwork.[5]

In 2016 Monmouthshire Council began a consultation on the construction of a pedestrian and cycleway bridge, 300 yds to the east of the Abergavenny Bridge.[6]

Description

Archway of the bridge, as seen from the east

The bridge has seven voussoired arches and cutwaters below.[7] The parapets were rebuilt in the 20th century,[8] and have flat coping stones.[9] It is a Grade-II* listed building[10] and a Scheduled Monument.[3]

Notes

  1. "GGAT HER page". Cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk. http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/arch/ggat/english/ggat_interface.html. Retrieved 2017-03-31. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Newman 2000, p. 104.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Usk Road Bridge; Abergavenny Bridge, Abergavenny". Coflein. 2006-01-17. http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/24229/details/usk-road-bridge-abergavenny-bridge-abergavenny. Retrieved 2017-03-31. 
  4. Tate. "'Abergavenny Bridge, Monmouthshire, Clearing Up after a Showery Day', Joseph Mallord William Turner, ?exhibited 1799". Tate. http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/turner-abergavenny-bridge-monmouthshire-clearing-up-after-a-showery-day-tw0548. Retrieved 2017-03-31. 
  5. Tate. "'?Abergavenny Bridge', Joseph Mallord William Turner, 1798". Tate. http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/turner-abergavenny-bridge-d01669. Retrieved 2017-03-31. 
  6. "Abergavenny-Llanfoist bridge proposal". Monmouthshire. 2016-09-09. http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/abergavenny-llanfoist-bridge-proposal. Retrieved 2017-03-31. 
  7. Good Stuff. "Usk Bridge (also known as Abergavenny Bridge), Llanfoist Fawr, Monmouthshire". Britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300002378-usk-bridge-also-known-as-abergavenny-bridge-llanfoist-fawr#.WN4gDpI2x9A. Retrieved 2017-03-31. 
  8. "GGAT HER page". Cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk. http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/arch/ggat/english/ggat_interface.html. Retrieved 2017-03-31. 
  9. "Usk Road Bridge; Abergavenny Bridge, Abergavenny". Coflein. 2006-01-17. http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/24229/details/usk-road-bridge-abergavenny-bridge-abergavenny. Retrieved 2017-03-31. 
  10. Good Stuff. "Usk Bridge (also known as Abergavenny Bridge), Llanfoist Fawr, Monmouthshire". Britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300002378-usk-bridge-also-known-as-abergavenny-bridge-llanfoist-fawr#.WN4gDpI2x9A. Retrieved 2017-03-31. 

References