Full Report for Listed Buildings
Summary Description of a Listed Buildings
Date of Designation
25/02/2000
Date of Amendment
25/02/2000
Name of Property
Railway bridge on NE side of Railway Tavern
Unitary Authority
Neath Port Talbot
Location
On the NE side of Railway Tavern N of Dulais Fach Road and S of Aberdulais Basin.
History
The Vale of Neath Railway was incorporated in 1846 and opened in 1851. Engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the line was built to a broad gauge. The bridge, one of the few stone bridges original to the railway, was built partly over a navigable channel cut in the late C18 from the River Neath to a forge, later the Aberdulais tinplate works. A tramway connecting to Upper and Lower Works of the Aberdulais Tinplate works also passed beneath the bridge.
Exterior
A 2-bay bridge constructed of coursed hammer-dressed sandstone, with round arches. A thin coping is above, although the original parapet, probably of iron railings, is now missing. Battered abutments are splayed outwards and retain an embankment. The deck was designed to carry a double broad-gauge track, but now carries a single track.
Reason for designation
Listed for its industrial archaeological interest as a fine masonry bridge associated with Brunel's original Vale of Neath Railway, and for group value with other listed canal and railway items at Aberdulais Basin.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]