Llandrinio Bridge

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Llandrinio

Pont Llandrinio
Bridge in Wales
Bridge at Llandrinio - geograph.org.uk - 462334.jpg
Coordinates 52°44′45″N3°02′27″W / 52.7459°N 3.0407°W / 52.7459; -3.0407 Coordinates: 52°44′45″N3°02′27″W / 52.7459°N 3.0407°W / 52.7459; -3.0407
CarriesRoad traffic
Crosses River Severn
Locale Llandrinio, Powys, Wales
Characteristics
Material Old Red Sandstone
Total length45.00 m (147.64 ft)
Width3.75 m (12.3 ft)
No. of spans3
Piers in water2
History
Designer John Gwynn
Construction start1769
Construction end1775
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameLlandrinio Bridge
Designated26 October 1953
Reference no.7666
Official nameLlandrinio Bridge
Designated26 October 1953
Reference no.MG046
Location
Llandrinio Bridge

Llandrinio Bridge, Llandrinio, Powys, Wales, is a road bridge over the River Severn. Constructed between 1769 and 1775, the bridge is attributed to John Gwynn of Shrewsbury, a noted local architect who designed a number of crossings over the Severn, as well as Magdalen Bridge in Oxford. The bridge is also the site of defensive structures dating to World War II, including a pillbox disguised as an agricultural cowshed and Dragon's teeth tank traps at its northern end. The bridge is a Grade I listed structure and a Scheduled monument.

Contents

History and description

Archdeacon Thomas, in his History of the Parish of Llandrinio published in 1895, suggested that the site of Llandrinio Bridge represented an ancient crossing, and identified a reference to a medieval ferry in a charter of 1309. [1] The present bridge was built between 1769 and 1775, almost certainly to the designs of John Gwynn. [lower-alpha 1] [2] Gwynn, a native of Shrewsbury, designed a number of crossings over the River Severn, including the English Bridge in his home town, [4] and Atcham Bridge in Shropshire. [5] He also worked in Oxford, designing the Covered Market [6] and Magdalen Bridge. [7]

At the outbreak of World War II, plans were made for the defence of Britain in the event of a German invasion. In the west, a defensive line, Western Command Stop Line No.1, followed the line of the Severn from Tewkesbury to Shrewsbury. [8] The line crossed the river at Llandrinio, and the bridge was fortified with a pillbox disguised as an agricultural shed and Dragon's teeth tank traps at its northern end. [9]

The Severn at Llandrinio is susceptible to flooding, which can lead to frequent closure of the bridge. [10] [11] [12] In 2015, particularly severe flooding led to fears that the bridge was at risk of collapse. [13] Subsequent investigations showed that several of the bridge's keystones had been removed by the floodwaters and a major programme of structural repair was required. [14]

Llandrinio Bridge is constructed of pink sandstone. Three arches span the river at a length of 45 metres. [15] Scourfield and Haslam, in their Powys volume of the Pevsner Buildings of Wales , describe Llandrinio as a "humped narrow roadway, yet a most graceful line when seen from the [river] bank." [2] The bridge is a Grade I listed structure and a Scheduled monument. [16] [17]

Notes

  1. ↑ Scourfield and Haslam only go so far as to suggest that the bridge is "probably by John Gywnn", [2] a caution shared by Cadw. [3]

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References

  1. ↑ "Llandrinio" (PDF). Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 27 March 2021.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  2. 1 2 Scourfield & Haslam 2013, p. 141.
  3. Cadw. "Llandrinio Bridge  (Grade I) (7666)". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  4. ↑ Historic England. "English Bridge  (Grade II*) (1271479)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 27 March 2021.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. ↑ Historic England. "Atcham Bridge  (Grade II*) (1176588)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 27 March 2021.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  6. ↑ Historic England. "The Covered Market, Oxford  (Grade II) (1380159)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 27 March 2021.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  7. ↑ Historic England. "Magdalen Bridge  (Grade II*) (1369360)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 27 March 2021.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  8. ↑ "Defence of Britain Archive - Llandrinio Pillbox". Council for British Archaeology. 1 July 1995.
  9. ↑ "Pillbox, Llandrinio". RCAHMW. Retrieved 27 March 2021.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  10. ↑ "Severn at Llandrinio". River Levels UK. Retrieved 27 March 2021.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  11. ↑ "Severn at Llandrinio". FloodAssist. Retrieved 27 March 2021.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  12. ↑ Knight, Nick (17 March 2019). "Flooding problems on Llandrinio Bridge on the B4393". Powys County Times.
  13. ↑ "Llandrinio Bridge in Powys closed over collapse fear". BBC News. 1 December 2015.
  14. ↑ Doman, Robert (9 December 2015). "Ancient Llandrinio Bridge closed off due to 'major structural damage'". Oswestry & Border Counties Advertiser.
  15. ↑ "Llandrinio Bridge". RCAHMW. Retrieved 27 March 2021.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  16. ↑ Cadw. "Llandrinio Bridge  (Grade I) (7666)". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "Llandrinio Bridge". Scheduled Monuments UK. Retrieved 27 March 2021.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

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