Pontypridd Bridge

The Old Bridge in Pontypridd, also known as the William Edwards Bridge, is a single-span footbridge crossing the River Taff. Built by William Edwards and completed in 1756, it stands as a remarkable feat of 18th-century engineering. The bridge now holds statutory protection as a scheduled ancient monument and is grade I listed. Pontypridd itself began as a small hamlet called Pont-y-tŷ-pridd, meaning ‘the bridge of the earthen house’. An ancient ford with stepping stones once ran alongside the current bridge, used only when the river ran low. The bridge’s construction was far from straightforward. Edwards first built a three-arch stone bridge in 1746, but it was destroyed by a flood two years later. His second attempt, a 140-foot single-arch design, also failed when the centre timber work gave way. A third attempt collapsed after just six weeks due to unbalanced weight distribution. Edwards finally succeeded with a lighter design featuring three cylindrical voids, which reduced pressure on the crown. The total cost of the project, including three failed attempts, left Edwards heavily in debt. Today, the Old Bridge is a quiet footbridge, no longer used by wagons or carts. Its steep incline made it impractical for heavy traffic, leading to the construction of the Victoria Bridge in 1857. The bridge has inspired many landscape artists, including Richard Wilson and Turner. It remains a symbol of local pride, featured in emblems of Pontypridd F.C., Pontypridd RFC, and Cilfynydd RFC. Illuminated as part of a regeneration programme, the bridge now stands as a landmark in the South Wales Valleys.