Abergavenny Bridge

Abergavenny Bridge spans the River Usk where the town meets Llanfoist. It carries the A4143 road and traces its origins to the mid-15th century. Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford, is traditionally credited with its first construction. In the early 19th century the bridge was rebuilt to carry a tramway built by William Crossley. Later the same century the bridge and tramway were merged into a single structure. The bridge is notable for its seven stone arches and pointed cutwaters beneath. Two paintings of the bridge by J. M. W. Turner survive from the 1790s. One hangs in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the other in Tate Britain though it is not on display. The bridge is recognised as a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled Monument. Visitors walk across the wide parapets rebuilt in the 20th century. The river below flows between the cutwaters and the seven arches rise evenly along the span. The bridge links Abergavenny’s streets with Llanfoist’s lanes and offers views of the surrounding hills.