Garndiffaith Railway Viaduct, Abersychan, Torfaen

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.7327 / 51°43'57"N

Longitude: -3.0691 / 3°4'8"W

OS Eastings: 326264

OS Northings: 204317

OS Grid: SO262043

Mapcode National: GBR J2.24Q4

Mapcode Global: VH79K.RQB2

Plus Code: 9C3RPWMJ+39

Entry Name: Garndiffaith Railway Viaduct

Listing Date: 16 November 1990

Last Amended: 28 July 1997

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 3151

Building Class: Transport

ID on this website: 300003151

Location: Approximately 250m east of the B4246. Spanning the steep sided valley of the river Ffrwd between the northern part of Talywain and the southern part of Garndiffaith.

County: Torfaen

Town: Pontypool

Community: Abersychan

Locality: Garndiffaith

Built-Up Area: Abersychan

Traditional County: Monmouthshire

Tagged with: Bridge over valley

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History

Opened in 1877; built by John Gardner, consultant engineer to the London and North Western Railway for this area. Carried the LNWR at the southern end of their Blaenavon banch which ran south from Brynmawr on the Merthyr,Tredegar and Abergavenny line, meeting the Talywain branch of the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company (GWR from 1880). Opened for passenger traffic on 1st May 1878, but also had an important function serving collieries and ironworks in the Abersychan area. As well as the single track branch line it also carried a track leading to the British Ironworks. The trackbed is now part of National Cycle Network Route 46.

Exterior

An originally twin track railway viaduct. Snecked rubble construction with ashlar impost bands, a vermiculated stringcourse above arches, which have blue brick voussoirs and soffits; stone piers. Nine semi-circular 50' arches, built in equal sections of 3 arches with corbelled refuges on each third pier, and following a gentle curve; the viaduct narrows towards the east end. Chamfered ashlar plaque on the pier by Viaduct Road states 'ERECTED A.D. 1876-7 John Gardner M.Inst C.E. Engineer'. The viaduct is now a cycle track and footpath with fences on either side, and it is beginning to have a cover of vegetation.

Reasons for Listing

Listed for its special interest to the history of the south-east Wales railways, as a good example of a railway viaduct for its period and for its dominant position in the valley.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

II Church of St Thomas
In the centre of Talywain standing in an extensive rectangular rubble walled churchyard.
II Former Goods Shed of Abersychan and Talywain Station
To the west of Talywain village, high on the embankment above The British and about 300m north of the Big Arch.
II Waterloo Cottage
In the Talywain area of Abersychan, Waterloo Cottage is at the southern end of Fairfield (off Waterloo Road), where the road becomes a footpath.
II British Colliery Pumping Engine House
On the site of the British Ironworks about 100m north east of the former British Ironworks office and foundry quadrangle.
II Rising Sun Bridge
To the north east of Victoria Village and about 100m east of the junction with Cwmavon Road.
II Lasgarn Cottage
Attractively situated on the east bank of Afon Lwyd immediately to the north east of Rising Sun Bridge.
II The Big Arch
Located next to the B4246 and carries a disused railway embankment across a disused railway line now a track. The arch forms the visual and actual gateway to the former British Ironworks area.
II High Street Baptist Church
Built backing into the hillside on a high platform with stone retaining wall and iron railings on a site overlooking Cwmsychan.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Garndiffaith Railway Viaduct

A Grade II Listed Building in Abersychan, Torfaen