GM050

New Inn Bridge  

06/01/1947  

Designated  

Bridgend  

Merthyr Mawr  

289097  

178391  

Transport  

Bridge  

Medieval  

The monument, also known as the Dipping Bridge, consists of the remains of a stone-built bridge dating from the late medieval period (probably sixteenth century or earlier). It is located on the floodplain of the River Ogmore, which measures 26m in width at this point. The bridge was built from local Blue Lias coursed rubble stone and measures c.45m in length, including extended parapet walls, and a maximum of 7.7m in width. It comprised a single carriageway, supported by four spans, each measuring c.3-4m in width. Each span featured a segmental pointed arch, and the bridge piers were protected by cutwaters on the upstream and downstream sides. There is an additional pair of cutwaters on the east bank. The cutwaters are V-shaped and step up to meet the parapet walls. The downstream cutwater on the west bank is modern and was built in 2024. The parapet walls on the bridge are straight and low and lack pedestrian refuges over the cut waters. The coping stones are roughly dressed, flat-topped and vary in size with the largest measuring up to 0.2m in thickness and 1m in length. There are two segmental-headed openings in the downstream parapet, which accessed a sheep-washing pool as depicted on nineteenth century Ordnance Survey maps. The parapet walls extend on to the riverbanks at both ends where they curve outwards. The north parapet wall features a pair of stone stiles each providing access to the riverbanks on either side of the river. The bridge has been restored in the past, and most if not all the parapet walls have been rebuilt. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval or post medieval construction techniques and transportation systems. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong possibility of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. Originally, scheduled in 1947 the scheduled area has been revised to include the upstream and downstream cutwaters and the extended parapet walls. The scheduled area measures 46m WNW-ESE by 8m transversely. It is an irregular polygon in shape and centred at OS NGR 289098 178389. The modern tarmacadam road surface is excluded from the scheduling.