Old Wye Bridge

The Old Wye Bridge spans the River Wye between Monmouthshire in Wales and Gloucestershire in England, just below Chepstow Castle. It is a cast-iron road bridge built in 1816 by John Rastrick, replacing earlier wooden structures that had stood on the site since Norman times. Engineers John Rennie and Thomas Telford influenced its design, giving it five shallow segmental arches. The bridge once carried the main A48 between Newport and Gloucester until a newer bridge opened downstream in 1988. It is now closed to vehicles but remains a Grade I listed building. The bridge’s history reflects centuries of engineering challenges caused by the river’s extreme tides. Earlier wooden bridges were repeatedly destroyed by storms, high water, and even Civil War sabotage. Records from the 14th to 18th centuries describe collapses, repairs, and disputes between counties over maintenance costs. In 1911, excavations by Dr. Orville Owen uncovered remains of the Roman crossing further upstream. The 1816 bridge was celebrated for its elegance and strength, praised by historian John Newman as a “supremely elegant composition.” Visitors can still walk across the bridge’s gently curved roadway, now reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. Ornate ironwork marks the boundary between the two counties, and cast-iron lamp posts installed in 1969 line the path. The river below has one of the world’s highest tidal ranges, creating dramatic views of the water’s rise and fall. Nearby, Chepstow Castle overlooks the crossing, linking the bridge’s past with the town’s medieval history. The structure stands as a reminder of early iron construction and the persistent efforts to tame the Wye’s powerful currents.