Crickhowell Bridge

Crickhowell Bridge carries the A4077 over the River Usk in the market town of Crickhowell, Powys. The present stone structure, over 128 metres long, replaced a medieval timber bridge first recorded in 1538. In 1706 it was rebuilt in stone with additional arches for £400, then widened in 1810 after flood damage and again altered in 1828–30 by engineer Benjamin James. The bridge is unusual because the upstream side has twelve arches while the downstream side has thirteen. Its V-shaped cutwaters and pedestrian refuges were designed to protect the structure from the river’s force. Rubble masonry with flat coping stones forms the parapets, giving the bridge a sturdy yet simple appearance. Visitors walk along the 4-metre-wide deck and can inspect the recessed downstream arches and the combined upstream arch. The bridge’s Grade I listing recognises it as one of Wales’ finest early bridges, and its scheduled monument status protects its historic fabric.