Upper Yard Bridge

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Listed for its special interest as one of a group of well-preserved original Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal bridges. Group value with other listed items associated with Llangattock Wharf. History: The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal was proposed in 1792 to connect the Upper Usk valley to the Monmouthshire Canal at Pontymoile and from there to the sea at Newport. The middle section of the canal, between Gilwern and Talybont and including Llangattock, was cut between 1797 and 1799. The upper section between Talybont and Brecon opened in 1800, both sections being engineered by Thomas Dadford. The lower section between Gilwern and Pontymoile was completed in 1812 and was engineered by William Crosley. The canal was sold to the Monmouthshire Canal Company in 1865, which was later incorporated into the Great Western Railway. The last toll was taken on the canal in 1933 and it was finally abandoned in 1962. The canal, renamed the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, has been undergoing restoration since 1964, and is currently used by pleasure craft. This bridge lies within the section constructed by Thomas Dadford between 1797 and 1799. Exterior: Single-span hump-backed bridge of rubble sandstone, with segmental arch of voussoirs and continuous parapets. On the SE (downstream) side is a cast iron plaque with the bridge number cast in relief. The parapets are splayed with end piers. The deck slopes down towards the NE and a retaining wall butts against the E end pier. The copings are mainly of upright stones with some flat stone replacements. Location: The bridge carries a lane which runs WSW from Llangattock village towards Beaufort. It is 0.75km from the Church. Llangattock Wharf is located between bridges Nos 114 and 115.

From Cadw under OGL v3.