ABERCAMLAIS near Brecon, Powy, Wales 1830 {GPS: N51o 57’ 0.1” W3o 30’ 26.2”} HEW1265 SN965 290
This bridge in on the private land. The suspension foot bridge crosses the Usk River six miles west of Brecon off A40 in the grounds of the Abercamlais estate. 80’ span attributed to Crawshay Bailey, ironmaster of Nantyglo. He built a number of these bridges over the Usk but this is the last one still unclaimed by floods perhaps because it is six inches higher than the others were. The owner told me that it is because of the way the pylons were fabricated, that one can date it to before 1860.
Two 1 1/8” wrought iron rods on each side spaced 2’8” apart vertically form the suspension cables. Their screwed ends pass through cast iron end-posts which are 6’ high and spaced 2’ 2” at the bottom and 3’ 4” at the top to which they are tensioned by nuts. This configuration was what Bailey used before 1860.
Every 10’ there are iron rods hooked over the top cables and looped round the lower cables which carry transverse 4” by 3/8” flat iron deck bearers. The footway is of four 4” by 3/8” iron flats riveted to the deck bearers but resting freely on the others.