Vantage Point 7:

Aberafan Bridge (Grade II listed)

Before crossing the bridge over the River Afan, look right along the side of Tesco and up to the road:

 This area was once the site of the Aberavon Station of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, built to bring coal and other goods to Swansea; it ran from the Rhondda, through the Rhondda tunnel to Blaengwynfi, with stations in Port Talbot, Aberafan and Neath, to Swansea.

Until the 1960s this was the point where the Rhondda and Swansea Bay railway crossed the A48, over a level crossing which was notorious for causing delays on the main road to the west. This was further complicated by a T junction in the middle of the town, when the road to Aberafan Beach turned off sharp left – lorries frequently got stuck when turning.

As you stand by the Aberafan Bridge look up along the side of Tesco towards the arches of the M4 motorway, under which the site of Dic Penderyn’s birthplace is said to have been.

Old thatched houses by the Causeway, now gone: Dic Penderyn’s birthplace may have looked similar to this

See 10. St Mary’s Church for more about Dic Penderyn

The bridge was once the main thoroughfare into the busy commercial area of Talbot Square, High Street, Water Street, Walnut Tree Lane and other roads and houses with hotels, chapels and shops.

High Street looking at Aberavon Bridge 1909.

Cwmafan Road also ran up from here; the area now behind the Civic Centre was built up, with streets like Carmarthen Row built as housing for the Margam Tinplate workers.

Walk onto the Aberafan Bridge

The bridge, and the ford that preceded it, are the reason why Aberafan/Port Talbot exists here. This, and the crossing of the river Neath some two miles further on, were important points on the main road to the west, and needed to be controlled.

Originally there was a ford here, but as the river was tidal, this could lead to delays in crossing, as Gerald of Wales noted when he came here with the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1188.

The original bridge was a little further down the river, opposite Aberafan Castle and St. Mary`s church, but after it was washed away in the 1768 flood, it was moved a little further upriver.

Aberafan Bridge

The present bridge dates from c. 1842, replacing one built by William Edwards, famous for the bridge at Pontypridd. In 1842 the builder was the engineer William Kirkhouse, also associated with the Tennant Canal.

The Kirkhouse bridge was later widened, in 1893, to accommodate the A48, which ran straight through the town and up to Pentyla. However, the demolition of the old town and the building of the Aberafan Centre cut out a section of this road, which was replaced by the ring road.

Floods in Water Street 1909

Floods at Eagle Street: This still often happens

According to the naturalist John Ray, if one came to the bridge on Christmas morning, one could see the Sacred Salmon of the Afan, which would allow itself to be stroked – but woe betide anyone who tried to harm it. A few years ago, a pair of swans nested just below the bridge, but they now live further downstream. The swans built their nest on the remains of a railway bridge that once crossed the river here, and though they have moved, the little island remains. The river banks were built up following bad flooding in the 1970s, but the old bridge footing still provides a green island against the stone walls.

Cross the bridge and find yourself in the Civic Square. Your next QR Code 8 will be at Ebenezer Chapel on your right of the Square as you enter.