CONWY SUSPENSION BRIDGE 1826 Gwynedd, Caernaronshire Thomas Telford HEW 107 SH785 776 N53 16’ 53.5” W3 49’ 15.8”
Thomas Telford designed and built this bridge over the River Conwy as part of his London to Holyhead road. In architectural sympathy with the ancient Conwy Castle adjacent to it, the suspension bridge towers are massive arches with crenellated columns which support the chains. The span between the 40 foot towers is 327 feet. Telford described it as having “the appearance of a huge drawbridge” opposite the water-entrance to the castle. The wrought iron chains are in tiers of five 9’ long links with alternating plate joints. Vertical rods suspend the deck from the junction rods. The bridge was strengthened in 1812 with extra cables and cross girders. In 1958 a modern bridge was built alongside to accommodate the heavy traffic on A55. Conwy bridge is now the property of the National Trust.