Devil's Bridge ( cy, Pontarfynach, lit. "The bridge on the Mynach") is a village and
community
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, tow ...
in
Ceredigion
Ceredigion ( , , ) is a county in the west of Wales, corresponding to the historic county of Cardiganshire. During the second half of the first millennium Ceredigion was a minor kingdom. It has been administered as a county since 1282. Cere ...
, Wales. Above the
River Mynach
The Afon Mynach ( en, River Mynach) is a small river in Ceredigion, Wales.
Its source is at the meeting of two smaller rivers, the Nant Rhuddnant and the Afon Merin. Both of these streams have their sources in lakes high on the Cambrian Mountai ...
on the edge of the village is the unusual road bridge from which the village gets its
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
name.
The village is on the A4120 road, about east of
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...
.
The population of Pontarfynach community at the
2011 census was 455. The mid-2016 estimate suggests that the population had dropped slightly to 429.
History
The village is best known for the bridge that spans the
Afon Mynach
The Afon Mynach ( en, River Mynach) is a small river in Ceredigion, Wales.
Its source is at the meeting of two smaller rivers, the Nant Rhuddnant and the Afon Merin. Both of these streams have their sources in lakes high on the Cambrian Mountain ...
, a
tributary
A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage ...
of the
Rheidol. The bridge is unique in that three separate bridges are coexistent, each one built upon the previous bridge. The previous structures were not demolished.
The most recently built, in 1901, is an iron bridge which was erected above the older arches. The original bridge is
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, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...
and the second one, a stone structure, built in 1753 and upgraded in 1777 and in 1814, was erected when the original bridge was thought to be unstable. The builders of the 1753 structure used the original bridge () to support
scaffolding
Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is a temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings, bridges and all other man-made structures. Scaffolds are widely use ...
during construction and added a second arch. The 1901 structure eliminated the slope in the roadway. In 1971, the steelwork and railings were repaired and the bridge was strengthened. The structure was Grade II
Listed
Listed may refer to:
* Listed, Bornholm, a fishing village on the Danish island of Bornholm
* Listed (MMM program), a television show on MuchMoreMusic
* Endangered species in biology
* Listed building, in architecture, designation of a historicall ...
on 21 January 1964, "as a remarkable succession of three superimposed bridges, one of the best known picturesque sites in Wales" and the listing was updated in 2005.
The name in 1629 was or , meaning "Bridge over the Mynach". The word is Welsh for monk; one theory is that the river got its name from the fact that it was near land owned by a monastery. The first mention of the structure using the English name Devil's Bridge, in historical records, is from 1734.
The bridge is at a point where the
River Mynach
The Afon Mynach ( en, River Mynach) is a small river in Ceredigion, Wales.
Its source is at the meeting of two smaller rivers, the Nant Rhuddnant and the Afon Merin. Both of these streams have their sources in lakes high on the Cambrian Mountai ...
drops in five steps down a steep and narrow
ravine
A ravine is a landform that is narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streambank erosion.[Jacob's Ladder
Jacob's Ladder ( he, סֻלָּם יַעֲקֹב ) is a ladder leading to heaven that was featured in a dream the biblical Patriarch Jacob had during his flight from his brother Esau in the Book of Genesis (chapter 28).
The significance of th ...](_blank)
, a circular walk for tourists, leads down to a modern metal bridge below the waterfalls.
According to legend, the original bridge was built after an old woman lost her cow and saw it grazing on the other side of the river. The
Devil
A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conceptions of t ...
appeared and agreed to build a bridge in return for the
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...
of the first living thing to cross it. When the bridge was finished, the old woman threw a crust of bread over the river, which her dog crossed the bridge to retrieve, thus becoming the first living thing to cross it. The devil was left with only the soul of the dog.
Tourism and notable sites associated with Devil's Bridge
Devil's Bridge has been a tourist attraction for centuries. Records indicate that tourists were coming to this area by the mid 1700s and that an inn or hotel has existed nearby since before 1796. The area was once part of the
Hafod Estate, owned by
Thomas Johnes
Thomas Johnes FRS (1 September 1748 – 23 April 1816) was a Member of Parliament, landscape architect, farmer, printer, writer and social benefactor. He is best known for his development of the Hafod Estate in Wales.
Johnes was born in Lud ...
who built a small hunting lodge on the estate which was eventually expanded into an inn. The building burned down and was rebuilt. Significant renovations were completed in 1837–1839 and in the 1860s. After several expansions and upgrades, it has been operated as the Hafod Hotel, using this name since the 1860s. In 2017, new owners had arranged for a survey in preparation for a major renovation; they intended to maintain much of the historical character of the building. Some interior renovation work had been completed by September 2017.
The artist
J. M. W. Turner sketched the bridge; this work is at the
Tate
Tate is an institution that houses, in a network of four art galleries, the United Kingdom's national collection of British art, and international modern and contemporary art. It is not a government institution, but its main sponsor is the U ...
Gallery, London. He also produced two watercolours of the area in 1795. In 1824,
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth (7 April 177023 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication ''Lyrical Ballads'' (1798).
Wordsworth's ' ...
published a poem, ''To the Torrent at the Devil’s Bridge, North Wales''.
The celebrated English author
George Borrow
George Henry Borrow (5 July 1803 – 26 July 1881) was an English writer of novels and of travel based on personal experiences in Europe. His travels gave him a close affinity with the Romani people of Europe, who figure strongly in his work. Hi ...
wrote ''Wild Wales'' (1854), which includes a lively, humorous account of his visit to Pontarfynach. The George Borrow Hotel, a 17th-century inn where he reputedly stayed, is nearby. Between Devil's Bridge and Pontrhydygroeis Hafod Uchtryd, or Hafod where the hotel is located.
Devil's Bridge is the location of
Devil's Bridge railway station
, type = Station on heritage railway
, image = Devil's Bridge station geograph-3863545-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
, caption = Devil's Bridge station, showing the two platforms in use.
, borough ...
, the upper terminus of the historic narrow-gauge
Vale of Rheidol Railway
The Vale of Rheidol Railway ( cy, Rheilffordd Cwm Rheidol) is a narrow gauge heritage railway in Ceredigion, Wales, between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge; a journey of .
It opened in 1902, and from the withdrawal of main line steam on Brit ...
, which opened between
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...
and Devil's Bridge in 1902.
Tourism to the area increased after the bridge and the Hafod building were featured in the
''Hinterland'' TV series, which has been broadcast in numerous countries. The hotel was presented, using flashbacks, as a children's home that had been closed down and turned into a guest house. Some tourists also enjoy the nearby nature trail, waterfalls and the historic steam railway. Other places of interest and attractions are located a short drive from the area, some in Aberystwyth.
The address for the Devil's Bridge area is Woodlands (referring to the caravan park where free parking is available), Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion, Wales, SY23 3JW. The bridge is on the A4120, with sign posts providing guidance from the village centre.
Popular culture
Devil's Bridge and the hotel building are featured prominently in the opening two episodes of the first series of the 2013 Welsh-language crime noir,
[Ceri Radford (28 April 2014]
"Hinterland, BBC Four, review: 'a corker'"
''The Daily Telegraph''. Retrieved 14 April 2017. (episodes titled in English "Devil's Bridge" and "Night Music"), shown on
S4C and subsequently on
BBC4
BBC Four is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was launched on 2 March 2002 as ''Hinterland''. Both are featured again in series 3 of the programme. The three series are streamed on
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
in Canada and the US and also in Japan, Taiwan, India, South Africa, South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
See also
*
Coed Rheidol National Nature Reserve
*
Devil's Bridge for other bridges of the same name
*
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 ...
References
External links
*
*
Devil's Bridge, famous thrice over.Photos of Devil's Bridge and surrounding areaVideo footage of the Devil's Bridge and Afon Mynach Gorge*
{{authority control
Villages in Ceredigion
Bridges in Ceredigion
Bridges completed in 1901
Bridges completed in 1753
Buildings and structures completed in 1200
Vale of Rheidol Railway
Tourist attractions in Ceredigion
Grade II* listed bridges in Wales
Grade II* listed buildings in Ceredigion
Bridges completed in the 13th century