Believed to be the oldest bridge of its kind in Wales, this
structure dates back to the late mediaeval period - around the 14th
or 15th century and is included in the National Monuments Record of
Wales. It has more recently been replaced by a newer and wider
bridge nearby and could so easily be missed on a journey along the
B4308 between Kidwelly and Trimsaran.
The nearby house on this now closed road was once the Spudder's
Arms but has since been converted to a private residence sometime
during the 20th century.
The location was made famous during the Rebecca Riots when
David
Davies, one of the more notorious of the rioters was arrested
for breaking down the nearby turnpike gate.
Some believe the bridge is haunted (a night cache perhaps?). The
legend recounts how that Nest, the beautiful daughter of Elvidir
Dhu, then in possession of Kidwelly Castle, fell in love with a
young Norman knight. After the customary complications with rival
lovers and so forth, the young man, meeting the lady at this
bridge, was ambushed by a hired ruffian, shot with a long arrow,
and hurled into the stream before the eyes of his sweetheart, who
promptly threw herself after him. Her white spirit afterwards
haunted the bridge and upon being approached, "vanished, with a
piercing scream, into the dark waters of the river." The bridge is
to this day known as " The Bridge of the White Spirit." This
roughly translates to "Pont Yr Ysbryd" in welsh and the current
"Spwdwr" is beleived to be a corruption of the Welsh name.
There are two suggested parking locations - the first being N
51° 43.736 W 004° 16.072 which is ideal for a walk
over the bridge itself. I recommend this for a daytime visit
only based on the fact that the nearby house has a pair of
excitable dogs. The residents always investigate when the dogs bark
- they told me they've had local problems with horses being stabbed
in nearby farms.
Alternatively, there's room for a car to briefly stop at
51°43.819'N, 4°16.209'W. Parking here may well
block a farm gate though but is very close to the cache
location.
