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
21166
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
17/12/1998
Date of Amendment
Name of Property
Torpantau tunnel - W portal
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Powys
Community
Talybont-on-Usk
Town
Locality
Taf Fechan
Easting
305079
Northing
217008
Street Side
Location
By the mountain road near Taf Fechan Forest, N of Pentwyn reservoir and in an area of open mountain called Coetgae-llwyn.
Description
Broad Class
Transport
Period
History
Part of Brecon and Merthyr Railway constructed 1860s, the line substantially supported by Brecon bankers and the de Winton family of industrialists, with the aim of transporting coal and iron from the industrial valleys. First section between Brecon and Pant near Dowlais opened 1863, later extended to Dowlais; branch line to Merthyr from Pontsticill Junction followed Taf Fechan River opened 1868. Engineer for Brecon/Pant stretch Henry Conybeare and for Pontsticill to Merthyr Alexander Sutherland. The engineering achievement of this line is described by Barrie as "the famous Seven Mile Bank, constructed throughout on a shelf cut into the hillside and falling towards the Usk for the first half-mile at 1 in 68 and then for 61/2 miles at 1 in 38 so that southbound trains have to overcome a rise of 925 feet in seven miles". Torpantau was just S of the tunnel. Line closed 1960s.
Exterior
Portal of coursed rock-faced stone, the parapet wall terminating at an angle of c 45 degrees to accommodate the slope; prominent rock-faced voussoirs with diamond shaped ends and tooled edges; similar edges to quoins.
Interior
Reason for designation
Included together with the E portal as a good example of C19 railway engineering and a surviving feature of the Brecon and Merthyr Railway.
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