2013

SO0307 : Side view of Pont-y-Cafnau, Merthyr Tydfil

taken 11 years ago, near to Cefn-Coed-y-Cymmer, Merthyr Tydfil/Merthyr Tudful, Wales

Side view of Pont-y-Cafnau, Merthyr Tydfil
Side view of Pont-y-Cafnau, Merthyr Tydfil
This bridge which dates from 1793 and spans the River Taff is the world's oldest cast-iron railway bridge.
It also supported two water troughs, a lower feeder just below the decking and an upper aqueduct above the decking at a height of 80ft above the river. The name means bridge of troughs.
The bridge was built to supply the nearby Cyfarthfa Ironworks. Limestone was carried along the 4ft gauge horse drawn tramroad which is still visible on the bridge. The lower water trough supplied the ironworks whilst the upper aqueduct supplied a 50ft water wheel that delivered a cold air blast to the furnaces.
The main bridge was constructed in iron; the A-frame based on previous timber-working practices. The aqueduct was a wooden trough.

The bridge is accessible from the south-west via the Taff Trail and from the north-east via a small industrial estate near to Cyfarthfa Park.

It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and also Grade II Listed.


See other images of Pont-y-Cafnau, Merthyr Tydfil

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Robin Drayton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Paths Place: Merthyr Tydfil Cyfarthfa Former: Tramroad Aqueduct River: Taff other tags: Pont-Y-Cafnau Scheduled Ancient Monument Grade II Listed Structure Bridge Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Merthyr Tydfil [28] · Viewed [22] · Pont-y-Cafnau [5] ·
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SO0307, 103 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Robin Drayton   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Wednesday, 9 January, 2013   (more nearby)
Submitted
Thursday, 31 January, 2013
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SO 0376 0713 [10m precision]
WGS84: 51:45.2738N 3:23.7398W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SO 0376 0713
View Direction
North-northwest (about 337 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Geograph
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