The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Clydach Railroad

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 05976.0g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Beaufort
Unitary authority : Blaenau Gwent
NGR : SO1647611539
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Tramway

Summary :
Built by the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal Company after it was incorporated in 1793 the Clydach Rail Road ran from the collieries at Brynmawr, at the head of the Clydach Gorge to the long established iron-forge at Glangrwyne.

Description :
Built by the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal Company after it was incorporated in 1793 the Clydach Rail Road ran from the collieries at Brynmawr, at the head of the Clydach Gorge to the long established iron-forge at Glangrwyne (pmgb 1998).

Course of the Clydach Railway. North of the London and North Western Railway at Brynmawr is the line of the Clydach Railroad, built in 1794, that ran along the north side of the current Heads of the Valleys road (A465) between Brynmawr and Abergavenny. No remains exist in this area as the line has since been utilised as a road (former description of 05269.0g)

Construction of the Clydach Railroad came in response to the need of the Brecknock and
Abergavenny Canal Company to transport coal from the Clydach Valley. John Dadford was
commissioned to design the railroad in 1794 to run from Gelli-felen coal pits to the canal at Glangrwyney on the Usk. By 1805 the railroad had been extended westwards to Nant y glo and then joined the Rassau Railroad at Beaufort (van Laun 2001; Rattenbury 1980 in Roberts and Jones 2006). Much of the railroad has been tarmaced over and the route is now largely that of minor roads.

Eastwards from the junction with the Rassau and Trevil Tramroads at Rhyd-y-blew, its route can be traced along Beaufort Rise, Radford Terrace, Frost Road and Bangor Road. The section around Beaufort Hill has been destroyed by housing development until south of Maeshalog House. The tramroad continued eastwards along what is now a footpath to a junction at the reservoir north of Winchestown. Here a branch would have run southeast to join with the Disgwylfa Tramroad to Nant y glo.

From the reservoir the tramroad continued northeast and its route can now be followed along Alma Street, Brynmawr. A small section of the tramroad has been destroyed by Brynmawr roundabout, however, its route can be traced north of the A465 towards Maesygwartha where it ran along the north side of the river below Blackrock, passing Daren Ddu quarries. The tramroad continued northeast through Cheltenham and Maesygwartha to the canal head at Gilwern.

A connection from the railroad into the ironworks is thought most likely to have been along a stone road across Smart's Bridge (LB 23813, 03204g) depicted on 1st Edition OS. John van Laun (2001) mentions that the gauge of the bridge is unlikely to be for a tramroad as well as the fact that there are no wear marks or means of fixing plates (Roberts and Jones 2006).


Sources :
BABTIE , 1997 , A465 Abergavenny to Hirwaun Cultural Heritage. Gazetteer from Environmental Statement Vol 2.2
Roberts, R. Jones, C. , 2006 , Southeast Wales Industrial Ironworks Landscape Year 2: transport networks ( © GGAT)
DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT A465 ABERGAVENNY TO HIRWAUN

Events :
E002359 : A465 Abergavenny to Hirwaun Dualling, Section Two:Gilwern to Brynmawr (year : 1997)
E004953 : A465 dualling Section 2: Clydach Rail Road, Cheltenham site 1 (year : 2003)
E004954 : A465 dualling Section 2: Clydach Rail Road, Cheltenham site 2 (year : 2003)
E004956 : A465 dualling Section 2: Clydach Rail Road, Brynmawr Evaluation (year : 2003)
E000956 : Southeast Wales Industrial Ironworks- Transport Networks (year : 2006)
E007513 : Waun-Y-Pound road, Ebbw Vale (year : 2018)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 11996g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 11997g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 11998g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 11999g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 05273g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 12000g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 12001g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/276001/details/clydach-railroad
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 07957m
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 03204g

Compiled date : 12-01-1998


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