20408

 

II  

Designated  

03/09/1998  

03/09/1998  

Railway Viaduct north of Malltraeth  

 

Isle of Anglesey  

Bodorgan  

 

Malltraeth  

241423  

369112  

 

Carrying the main Chester to Holyhead railway line over the Afon Cefni and flanking stretches of land across the Malltraeth Marsh; c. 750m NE of Malltraeth.  

Transport  

 

The Chester to Holyhead railway was proposed to improve links between London and Dublin. The bill was passed in July 1844, with Robert Stephenson as engineer and Francis Thompson of Derby as architect. The earliest work on the line took place on the stretches running through Llangaffo and Trefdraeth parishes, during the summer of 1845; the main contractor was Edward Ladd Betts who came to reside at Aber Braint while work was in progress. The line was opened on 31st March 1848 when the first train made the journey from Llanfairpwllgwyngyll to Holyhead.  

Railway viaduct of 19 low spans, each a voussoir arch. Built of rusticated limestone masonry laid to diminishing courses; plain dressed parapet over a stressed cornice. Each arch now with internal concrete structural linings.  

 

Included as an important structural component of the Chester to Holyhead railway, and a prominent landscape feature within the surrounding areas of reclaimed marshland. A bold design using masonry detailing to give the impression of solidity and permanence.