History

Former tramway bridge of c1823-4 across the Tawe, now providing road access to Yard House (listed under Tawe Uchaf community). The bridge was built for Daniel Harper of the British Iron & Coal Co. (later Abercrave Colliery Co.) for a coal tramroad down from the Level Fawr colliery. The original intention was for the bridge to be an aqueduct so that coal could be loaded onto boats and sent to the Swansea Canal across the valley. Instead the coal was brought to The Yard, the wide open space by the river, and thence transhipped to the canal. Yard House was the manager's house. The stone abutment of an earlier timber bridge noted to W of S end of bridge in 1977 was not identifiable at time of survey, possibly overgrown or washed away.

Exterior

Bridge, rubble stone, single very high arch over river with grey cut stone voussoirs. Spandrels have small pierced holes also with grey stone voussoirs. Projecting course under rubble parapets with stone coping, some replaced in concrete. Splayed abutments almost all rebuilt in C20, in concrete to both N end splays, red brick to SE splay.

Reasons for Listing

Included as an impressive single-span bridge, and for industrial archaeological interest.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29486483

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas