Difference between revisions of "William Edwards (1719-1789)"
Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
He died in 1789 at Eglwysilan. | He died in 1789 at Eglwysilan. | ||
Daniel Owen listed the bridges for which Willian Edwards was responsible, transcribed below, with additional information in brackets from 'A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland: 1500 - 1830'. | |||
Edwards's other bridges included the following:- | Edwards's other bridges included the following:- | ||
'The Usk bridge across the River Usk, at Usk, Mon.<br> | 'The Usk bridge across the River Usk, at Usk, Mon.'[Built 1746 - 1752, widened 1836]<br> | ||
A bridge of three arches over the Tawy.<br> | A bridge of three arches over the Tawy.[Presumably Beaufort Bridge, over the River Tawe demolished 1968]<br> | ||
Pont ar Tawy, over the same river, about ten miles above the town of Swansea. This was of one arch, its chord 80ft. with one cylinder over the haunches.<br> | Pont ar Tawy, over the same river, about ten miles above the town of Swansea. This was of one arch, its chord 80ft. with one cylinder over the haunches.[Pontardawe Bridge, 80 ft span formerly one void through each spandrel]<br> | ||
Bettws Bridge in Carmarthenshire, consisting of one arch 45ft. in the span.<br> | Bettws Bridge in Carmarthenshire, consisting of one arch 45ft. in the span. [Betws Bridge, River Amman, c.1768, 45ft span]<br> | ||
Llandovery Bridge in the same county, consisting of one arch, 84ft.in the span, with one cylinder over the haunches.<br> | Llandovery Bridge in the same county, consisting of one arch, 84ft.in the span, with one cylinder over the haunches. [1773 Dolauhirion Bridge (River Twyi), 84 ft span. 8 ft hole through each spandrel. Name of Thomas Edwards (William's son) appears on parapet - probably the contractor.]<br> | ||
Wychtree, Bridge, over the River Tawy, about two miles above Morriston: This has one arch. 95ft. in the span, 20ft. in altitude, with two cylinders over each of the haunches to relieve them.<br>Aberavon Bridge in Glamorganshire, consisting of one arch, 75ft. in the span, 15ft. in altitude, but without cylinders.<br> | Wychtree, Bridge, over the River Tawy, about two miles above Morriston: This has one arch. 95ft. in the span, 20ft. in altitude, with two cylinders over each of the haunches to relieve them. [1778 Wychtree, 95 ft. span, two cylinders in each spandrel. Demolished 1959]<br>Aberavon Bridge in Glamorganshire, consisting of one arch, 75ft. in the span, 15ft. in altitude, but without cylinders. [Aberavon Bridge 70 ft span, demolished 1842]<br> | ||
He likewise built Glasbury Bridge, near Hay, in Brecknockshire, over the River Wye: it consists of five arches, and is a light, elegant bridge. The arches are small segments of large circles: on high, piers, as best adapted to facilitate the passage of floods ' | He likewise built Glasbury Bridge, near Hay, in Brecknockshire, over the River Wye: it consists of five arches, and is a light, elegant bridge. The arches are small segments of large circles: on high, piers, as best adapted to facilitate the passage of floods.' [c.1777 Glasbury Bridge, Thomas Edwards contractor. Destroyed by flood 1795] | ||
== See Also == | == See Also == |
Revision as of 13:20, 20 April 2014
The following information comes from a newspaper article written by Daniel Owen in 1893 [1]
William Edwards was born in 1719 in Eglwysilan, Glamorganshire. His father, a farmer, died when William was just 2.
He started his career repairing dry stone walls, but progressed to constructing buildings, and later building bridges. He came to prominence with a remarkable single span bridge across the River Taff at Pontypridd, completed in 1755 or 1756 {Pontypridd Old Bridge).
He also became a prominent church minister.
He died in 1789 at Eglwysilan.
Daniel Owen listed the bridges for which Willian Edwards was responsible, transcribed below, with additional information in brackets from 'A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland: 1500 - 1830'.
Edwards's other bridges included the following:-
'The Usk bridge across the River Usk, at Usk, Mon.'[Built 1746 - 1752, widened 1836]
A bridge of three arches over the Tawy.[Presumably Beaufort Bridge, over the River Tawe demolished 1968]
Pont ar Tawy, over the same river, about ten miles above the town of Swansea. This was of one arch, its chord 80ft. with one cylinder over the haunches.[Pontardawe Bridge, 80 ft span formerly one void through each spandrel]
Bettws Bridge in Carmarthenshire, consisting of one arch 45ft. in the span. [Betws Bridge, River Amman, c.1768, 45ft span]
Llandovery Bridge in the same county, consisting of one arch, 84ft.in the span, with one cylinder over the haunches. [1773 Dolauhirion Bridge (River Twyi), 84 ft span. 8 ft hole through each spandrel. Name of Thomas Edwards (William's son) appears on parapet - probably the contractor.]
Wychtree, Bridge, over the River Tawy, about two miles above Morriston: This has one arch. 95ft. in the span, 20ft. in altitude, with two cylinders over each of the haunches to relieve them. [1778 Wychtree, 95 ft. span, two cylinders in each spandrel. Demolished 1959]
Aberavon Bridge in Glamorganshire, consisting of one arch, 75ft. in the span, 15ft. in altitude, but without cylinders. [Aberavon Bridge 70 ft span, demolished 1842]
He likewise built Glasbury Bridge, near Hay, in Brecknockshire, over the River Wye: it consists of five arches, and is a light, elegant bridge. The arches are small segments of large circles: on high, piers, as best adapted to facilitate the passage of floods.' [c.1777 Glasbury Bridge, Thomas Edwards contractor. Destroyed by flood 1795]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Western Mail, 25 July 1893