The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Tramway Embankment, Grosmont Railway

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00201g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Crucorney
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : SO3311321085
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Tramway
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
Massive earth embankment c6-8m high, with a flat top measuring c2m wide, which carried the line of the Grosmont Railway which was one of a chain of 3 inter-connecting tramways running from Abergavenny to Hereford in the early 19th century.

Description :
Massive section of earth embankment c6-8m high, with a flat top measuring c2m wide, which carried the line of the Grosmont Railway across a broad shallow valley north of Llanvihangel Court. Numerous stone setts are still in position, many bearing the imprint of the ends of the iron 'chairs'. The Grosmont Railway was one of a chain of 3 inter-connecting tramways running from Abergavenny to Hereford. The Act for the 3 tramways was passed in 1812 and the Llanvihangel Tramway opening in March 1814. It was extended to join Grosmont tramway in 1818. In January 1845 the promoters of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway (now the main Hereford-Newport line) offered to buy the tramroads. The new company got its Act of Parliament in 1846 and took over the 3 tramways on 1 January 1850. The new railway opened and the tramways closed on 1 May 1853. The embankment is now mostly tree and scrub covered. It has been damaged by erosion caused by people and cattle, and in the middle there is a deep cutting where a small stream crosses the embankment.

The Llanfihangel Railway was engineered by John Hodgkinson. The tramroad ran from the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal at Govilon to Llanfihangel Crucorney. The tramroad was later extended from Llanfihangel Crucorney to Llangua Bridge. This section of the tramroad was authorised in 1812 as the Grosmont railway. Much of the route of the tramway was abandoned when the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway was constructed.

Most of the Llanfihangel railway north of Abergavenny is taken up by the present Newport- Hereford line . From SO 3180 2052 the line of the tramroad survives as a footpath, and is visible as a terrace on the hillside. The remainder of the route can be traced as a series of property boundaries to a terminus at SO 3 2077275 ( Locock and Maynard 2015)

Sources :
Barrie, D S M , 1980 , A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain. Vol 12: South Wales
Locock M and Maynard D J , 1997 , Monmouthshire Historic Settlements An Archaeological Survey Part 1: Hundreds of Abergavenny and Skenfrith

Events :
E007609 : Land at Werngifford, Pandy, Monmouthshire (year : 2019)
E007610 : Land at Werngifford, Pandy, Monmouthshire (year : 2019)
E008750 : GGAT52: Monmouthshire Historic Settlements (Part 1), Abergavenny & Skenfrith (year : 1996-1997)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 34971 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/34971/details

Compiled date : 08-11-1997


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