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
14871
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
13/09/1994
Date of Amendment
28/07/1997
Name of Property
The Big Arch
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Torfaen
Community
Abersychan
Town
Pontypool
Locality
The British
Easting
325999
Northing
203495
Street Side
W
Location
Located next to the B4246 and carries a disused railway embankment across a disused railway line now a track. The arch forms the visual and actual gateway to the former British Ironworks area.
Description
Broad Class
Transport
Period
History
The 'Big Arch' was constructed in 1879 to carry the Monmouthshire Railway to a junction with the London and North-Western Railway Blaenavon branch. The junction was immediately north of this bridge and led to a jointly owned stretch of line running through Abersychan and Talywain station to Garndiffaith junction. A low level branch of the Monmouthshire Railway left the line south east of the junction to serve the main level of the British Ironworks, which operated from 1827 -1883. This branch crossed back under the Monmouthshire Railway's embankment which made the construction of this tunnel necessary. The height of the embankment, which was the result of the already existing London and North-Western line, meant the construction of this unusually long arch and tall revetment walls. The Talywain branch was opened from Pontnewynydd on 18/9/1879. It was built by the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company but was worked from the start by the Great Western Railway and the companies were formally amalgamated 1/8/1880. It was closed to traffic on 3/5/1980.
Exterior
Constructed of sandstone and brick. The bridge has a semi-circular arch 11m wide of five rings of engineering brick. The arch is 36m long and was constructed as a cut-and-cover tunnel. The revetment walls forming the portals are of bull-nosed sandstone on an unusual L-plan to support the embankment, which is on a skew to the arch. The corners of the L's are rounded and the walls are slightly battered. They slope steeply to the ground from apexes near the track bed level.
Interior
Reason for designation
Included for its historical interest, as a good example of railway engineering, and for its group value with the former British Ironworks offices and workshops, and the pumping Engine house of British Colliery.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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