History
It is believed that the Old Bridge (Yr Hen Bont) in Bridgend was built around 1425. References to the bridge come from 1444 and 1452. Until it was built, travelers crossed the river on the north ford, between the settlements of Oldcastle, Nolton and Newcastle. The city that developed at the eastern end of the bridge was named Bridgend and began to absorb the above settlements.
In 1775, the flood destroyed the west riverbank, damaging the two arches of the bridge on the west side of the river. They were then rebuilt, as a single double span arch. Subsequent arches disappeared when the city buildings entered the river bank. The eastern end of the bridge was connected to the rear buildings, which were erected before 1830. In 1920, the traffic of motor vehicles was closed on the bridge, leaving it as a footbridge.
In 1775, the flood destroyed the west riverbank, damaging the two arches of the bridge on the west side of the river. They were then rebuilt, as a single double span arch. Subsequent arches disappeared when the city buildings entered the river bank. The eastern end of the bridge was connected to the rear buildings, which were erected before 1830. In 1920, the traffic of motor vehicles was closed on the bridge, leaving it as a footbridge.
Architecture
The original medieval structure was a five-span structure with three river arches built of voussoirs and smaller flood arches on each bank (the water covered them only during the raised level of the river). Sterlings had straight, pointed shapes. The two visible arches span 13.7 meters on the western side and 6.9 meters on the eastern side of the bridge.
bibliography:
Salter M., Medieval Bridges, Malvern 2015.
Website wikipedia.org, Old Bridge, Bridgend.