Ha'penny Bridge, on the Usk, Glangwryney, Wales
Posted by: 
Team Sieni
N 51° 50.279 W 003° 06.191
30U E 492891 N 5743023
A Bailey bridge that replaced the old bridge on the road between Gilwern and Glangwryney which was destroyed in 1980.
Waymark Code: WM6FFX
Location: South Wales, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/26/2009
Views: 8
In 1980 [1] heavy flooding on the river Usk destroyed the bridge on the road between Glangrwyey and Gilwern. This flooding also breached the embankment on which the road travels across the low lying meadows near the bridge; I recall a newspaper photograph of a car stranded on the embankment with breaches on either side.
The bridge was replaced by a Bailey bridge. I'm not sure when the replacement was opened - 1981 at a guess. As I recall, this was a temporary arrangement, but it's still going strong nearly 30 years on, albeit with a 7.5 tonne weight restriction, imposed in 2004.
The bridge was formerly a toll bridge, hence the name Ha'penny Bridge.
The Bailey bridge itself had previously seen service a little way upriver at Crickhowell, where it provided a temporary replacement while repairs were carried out on the main bridge there.[2]
The road is narrow, so parking nearby would be inadvisable. Do not block passing places! Parking is available in the nearby village of Glangrwyney.
- My personal recollection. I'm fairly sure it was 1980 but it could possibly have been '81.
- Edit 2013. BBC Wales have taken down the page about the Crickhowell Bridge that was formerly linked here