Full Report for Listed Buildings


The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.

Summary Description


Reference Number
1080
Building Number
 
Grade
I  
Status
Designated  
Date of Designation
24/04/1951  
Date of Amendment
22/12/1989  
Name of Property
Llangollen Bridge  
Address
 

Location


Unitary Authority
Denbighshire  
Community
Llangollen  
Town
 
Locality
 
Easting
321511  
Northing
342167  
Street Side
 
Location
Spanning the River Dee at the N end of the main street.  

Description


Broad Class
Transport  
Period
 

History
The present bridge was probably begun in C16 although records show that there was a crossing here in 1284; this may have been built soon after the foundation of Valle Crucis Abbey. Traditionally the present structure has been attributed to John Trefor (Bishop of St Asaph 1346-1357) and is described as one of the Seven Wonders of Wales. This reference may infact mean to refer to Bishop John Trefor II (Bishop of St Asaph 1395-1411) who was a local man of the house of Pengwern. Leland's Itinerary (1536-39) mentions a great stone bridge but it is highly questionnable as to whether this is the present bridge. Fragments of sepulchral slabs were embeded into the masonry which could suggest that the present structure was constructed after the Dissolution. Alternatively there is a strong case for believing that the 'Rondle Reade 1656' stone (now in Hall Street) refers to the construction of the existing bridge espeacially in view of the ú250 fee that he was paid for the work of that date. On 11 May 1863 provision was made for the construction of the new railway station which entailed extending the bridge at the N end to span the railway line. In order to achieve the necessary height the roadway had to be ramped up towards N and so the parapets were rebuilt. A round castellated tower was also built at the NE corner - demolished in 1940. The width of the bridge was greatly widened on the upstream side 1873 and in 1968 it was again nearly doubled in width to the same side.  

Exterior
The river is spanned by 4 arches, unequally pointed and with voussoirs. Coursed rubble to older part, precast concrete to upstream side. Deep pointed cutwaters to both sides (taller to downstream side). Square headed railway opening.  

Interior
 

Reason for designation
The bridge is also a scheduled ancient monument. Group value.  

Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]



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