Usk Bridge (Usk)

The Usk Bridge, Usk, Monmouthshire, carries the A472 over the River Usk. It is the town's oldest crossing of the river and is a Grade II* listed structure.

Usk Bridge
"well-proportioned 18th and early 19th century road bridge"[1]
Coordinates	51.7018°N 2.9068°W
Carries	road traffic
Crosses	River Usk
Locale	Usk, Monmouthshire, Wales
Characteristics
Material	Old Red Sandstone
No. of spans	5
Piers in water	2
History
Designer	William Edwards
Construction start	1746-47
Construction end	1836-37
Statistics
Daily traffic	road
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name	The Usk Bridge (partly in Llanbadoc Community)
Designated	1 April 1974
Reference no.	2129
Location

History and description

The existing stone bridge is constructed of Old Red Sandstone and is attributed to the Welsh bridge builder William Edwards.[1] It was built between 1746 and 1747.[1] It has five arches with pointed cutwaters between each arch.[2] The bridge was widened in 1836-7, the widening maintaining the original appearance.[1] The evidence of reconstruction can be seen in the arch soffits.[3]

The bridge was designated a Grade II* listed structure in 1974.[1] The architectural historian John Newman described it as "traditional but well-proportioned".[3] It has been subject to considerable damage by traffic in the 21st century.[4]

See also

• List of bridges in Wales

Notes

1. "Listed Buildings - Full Report - HeritageBill Cadw Assets - Reports". cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net.
2. "The Usk Bridge (partly in Llanbadoc Community), Usk". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
3. Newman 2000, p. 593.
4. "Lorry damage to bridge spiralling" – via www.bbc.co.uk.

Sources

• Newman, John (2000). Gwent/Monmouthshire. The Buildings of Wales. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-071053-1.