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Llandrinio Bridge

Coordinates: 52°44′45″N 3°02′27″W / 52.7459°N 3.0407°W / 52.7459; -3.0407
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Llandrinio

Pont Llandrinio
Bridge in Wales
Coordinates52°44′45″N 3°02′27″W / 52.7459°N 3.0407°W / 52.7459; -3.0407
CarriesRoad traffic
CrossesRiver Severn
LocaleLlandrinio, Powys, Wales
Characteristics
MaterialOld Red Sandstone
Total length45.00 m (147.64 ft)
Width3.75 m (12.3 ft)
No. of spans3
Piers in water2
History
DesignerJohn 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
Map

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.

History and description

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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.[a][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

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  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]

References

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  1. ^ "Llandrinio" (PDF). Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c 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.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Atcham Bridge (Grade II*) (1176588)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  6. ^ Historic England. "The Covered Market, Oxford (Grade II) (1380159)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  7. ^ Historic England. "Magdalen Bridge (Grade II*) (1369360)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Defence of Britain Archive - Llandrinio Pillbox". Council for British Archaeology. 1 July 1995.
  9. ^ "Pill Box, Llandrinio (270336)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Severn at Llandrinio". River Levels UK. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Severn at Llandrinio". FloodAssist. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  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 (24234)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  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.

Sources

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