![Conway Bridge](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Conway_Bridge.%28Carnarvonshire%2C_North_Wales%29.jpeg)
The Conwy Suspension Bridge is a Grade I-listed structure and is one of the first road
suspension bridges in the world. Located in the
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
town of
Conwy
Conwy (, ), previously known in English as Conway, is a walled market town, community and the administrative centre of Conwy County Borough in North Wales. The walled town and castle stand on the west bank of the River Conwy, facing Deganwy on ...
in
Conwy county borough
Conwy County Borough ( cy, Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy) is a county borough in Wales. It borders Gwynedd to the west and south, and Denbighshire to the east. Other settlements in the county borough include Abergele, Betws-y-Coed, Colwyn Bay, Conwy ...
,
North Wales
North Wales ( cy, Gogledd Cymru) is a region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders Mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdonia N ...
, it is now only passable on foot. The bridge is now in the care of the
National Trust
The National Trust, formally the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, is a charity and membership organisation for heritage conservation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, there is a separate and ...
. It originally carried the A55(T)
road
A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation.
There are many types of ...
from
Chester to
Bangor.
![Telford's Bridge, Conwy](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Telford%27s_Bridge%2C_Conwy.jpg)
History
Built by
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE, (9 August 1757 – 2 September 1834) was a Scottish civil engineer. After establishing himself as an engineer of road and canal projects in Shropshire, he designed numerous infrastructure projects in his native Scot ...
, the suspension bridge
spans the
River Conwy
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, image = Boats in River Conwy.jpg
, image_size = 300
, image_caption = Boats in the river estuary at Conwy
, map =
, map_size =
, map_caption =
, pus ...
next to
Conwy Castle
Conwy Castle ( cy, Castell Conwy; ) is a fortification in Conwy, located in North Wales. It was built by Edward I, during his conquest of Wales, between 1283 and 1287. Constructed as part of a wider project to create the walled town of Conw ...
, a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
. The bridge was built in 1822–1826 at a cost of
£51,000 () and replaced the ferry at the same point. It is in the same style as one of Telford's other bridges, the
Menai Suspension Bridge
The Menai Suspension Bridge ( cy, Pont y Borth, Pont Grog y Borth) is a suspension bridge spanning the Menai Strait between the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales. Designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826, it was the world's f ...
crossing the
Menai Strait. The original wooden deck was replaced by an iron roadway in the late nineteenth century and it was strengthened by adding wire cables above the original iron chains in 1903. The following year a walkway was added for pedestrian traffic. The bridge was superseded by a new road bridge built alongside and closed on 13 December 1958 when
Henry Brooke, the Minister of Welsh Affairs, performed the opening ceremony of the new bridge.
[Conwy Archive Service https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/57120372-07f8-3645-9ae4-0baf52779c15] The suspension bridge is now only used as a footbridge and has been owned by the National Trust since 1965 who make a small charge for entry.
Description
Telford designed the bridge to match the adjacent Conwy Castle.
[ The bridge deck is suspended by four tiers of two chains each (a fifth tier was added later)][ carried over ]castellated
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet (i.e., a defensive low wall between chest-height and head-height), in which gaps or indentations, which are often rectangular, occur at interva ...
towers that have a central archway over the road with machicolation.[ The chains are anchored on the east side of the river by a freestone and concrete ]plinth
A pedestal (from French ''piédestal'', Italian ''piedistallo'' 'foot of a stall') or plinth is a support at the bottom of a statue, vase, column, or certain altars. Smaller pedestals, especially if round in shape, may be called socles. In ...
while those on the western side are anchored to the eastern barbican of the castle and bedrock. Part of the castle had to be demolished during construction to anchor the suspension cables.[
]
See also
* Conwy Railway Bridge
The Conwy Railway Bridge carries the North Wales coast railway line across the River Conwy between Llandudno Junction and the town of Conwy. The wrought iron tubular bridge, which is now Grade I listed, was built in the 19th century. It is the ...
* List of bridges in Wales
This list of bridges in Wales lists bridges of particular historical, scenic, architectural or engineering interest in Wales. Road and railway bridges, viaducts, aqueducts and footbridges are included.
List
Bridges are listed under the names us ...
Notes
External links
Conwy Suspension Bridge information at the National Trust
{{coord, 53, 17, N, 3, 49, W, region:GB_type:landmark, display=title
Bridges completed in 1826
Bridges in Conwy County Borough
Buildings and structures in Conwy
Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks
Suspension bridges in Wales
Bridges by Thomas Telford
National Trust properties in Wales
Tourist attractions in Conwy County Borough
Grade I listed bridges in Wales
Grade I listed buildings in Conwy County Borough
1826 establishments in Wales