History in Structure

Govilon Yard Bridge ( Canal Bridge No 97 )

A Grade II Listed Building in Govilon, Monmouthshire

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.817 / 51°49'1"N

Longitude: -3.0579 / 3°3'28"W

OS Eastings: 327173

OS Northings: 213677

OS Grid: SO271136

Mapcode National: GBR F4.WL42

Mapcode Global: VH795.YL8G

Plus Code: 9C3RRW8R+QR

Entry Name: Govilon Yard Bridge ( Canal Bridge No 97 )

Listing Date: 15 March 1996

Last Amended: 15 March 1996

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 17635

Building Class: Transport

ID on this website: 300017635

Location: Carrying the Blaenavon road over the canal to east of Govilon Wharf; tow-path to the south side.

County: Monmouthshire

Community: Llanfoist Fawr (Llan-ffwyst Fawr)

Community: Llanfoist Fawr

Locality: Govilon

Built-Up Area: Govilon

Traditional County: Monmouthshire

Tagged with: Bridge Road bridge

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Govilon

Exterior

History: The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal was promoted in 1792 to connect the upper Usk valley to the Monmouthshire Canal at Pontymoile and from there to the sea at Newport. Construction began in 1797, with Thomas Dadford as engineer, and the first section, from Gilwern to Llangynidr was completed in that year with the stretch as far as Brecon following in 1800. Work then stopped for a time with the result that the section to the Blaenavon Road east of Govilon was not completed until 1805, now with Thomas Cartwright as engineer. Further funds had to be raised and the last section from west of Llanfoist to Pontymoile was completed between 1809 and 1812, with William Crosley as engineer. Linked to tramroads, the canal was an important artery for trade in iron, lime and coal. In 1865 the Monmouthshire and the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal Companies merged becoming the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal Company. Later still the canal was bought out by the Great Western Railway and gradually the canal was run down until it was finally abandoned in 1962. Restoration work was begun in 1964 and is still ongoing.

This bridge is at the junction of the section completed in 1805 under Thomas Cartwright and that begun in 1809 by William Crosley and may belong to either date. It has also been widened to the west where it was crossed by Bailey's tramroad from Nantyglo Ironworks; this was laid in 1821.

Description: Standard single arch coursed rubble canal. Segmental arch has voussoirs. Keystone, with number 97, only to the east side and no keystone to west (Govilon) side where the bridge has been widened. Evidence for the widening is a straight joint and visible bases of the old voussoirs. Rubble abutments and simple, rebuilt, parapets, ramped to original side and straight to widened side.
Included for group value with other listed items at Govilon Wharf as a surviving early C19 Brecknock and Abergavenny canal structure.

References: Nicholson's guides to the Waterways, vol 3, South-west
p49-55, (n.d.).
R A Stevens, Brecknock & Abergavenny and Monmouthshire Canals (Towpath Guide No 2), (Cambridge, 1974), p51.

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.

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Other nearby listed buildings

  • II Govilon Boat Club Building at Govilon Wharf
    Between Canal Warehouse at Govilon Wharf and Govilon Yard Bridge. .
  • II Canal Warehouse At Govilon Wharf
    Set back on the north side of the canal between the railway viaduct and Govilon Yard bridge. The principal building at Govilon Wharf, now the British Waterways Board Office.
  • II Bank of three Limekilns to rear of Kiln Lodge
    In the garden above Kiln Lodge to the east of Govilon on the road that runs south-west towards Blaenavon; near the railway viaduct over the B 4246 and set immediately below the canal.
  • II Railway Viaduct over Canal to SE of Govilon
    Spanning the canal at a skewed angle, to south-east of Govilon.
  • II Quarry Bridge (Canal Bridge no 96)
    Spanning the canal to the east of the Blaenavon road.
  • II* Llanwenarth Baptist Church
    Situated near the centre of Govilon in a large burial ground immediately north of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.
  • II Chapel Cottages No 1
    Situated on the edge of the burial ground to Llanwenarth Baptist Church and immediately north of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Set back behind low rubble forecourt walls including dividing wall
  • II Chapel Cottages No 2
    Situated on the edge of the burial ground to Llanwenarth Baptist Church and immediately north of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Set back behind low rubble forecourt walls including dividing wall

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