2019

SH7956 : Sappers' Bridge over the Afon Conwy

taken 5 years ago, near to Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, Wales

Sappers' Bridge over the Afon Conwy
Sappers' Bridge over the Afon Conwy
Looking west over Sappers' Bridge and the Afon Conwy. The bridge was built in 1930 but was closed in December 2021 as some wooden planks were rotten. It is scheduled for repair.
Sappers’ Bridge

Why Sappers’ Bridge?

Until 1917, stepping stones were the only way to cross the Afon Conwy at this point. That year, a wooden footbridge was built on the site by the Royal Engineers to link the village with an army camp on the opposite (east) side of the river.

It was washed it away in a storm in 1930, but was subsequently rebuilt that year by Westminster-based engineers David Rowell & Co. who, some years earlier, had constructed Queen’s Park Suspension Bridge, a similar but rather grander version in Chester.
The original name of Sappers’ Bridge was retained as a mark of respect to the Royal Engineers’ war-time efforts.
For safety reasons the bridge was closed to the public at Christmas 2021.
The suspension bridge, renowned for its wobbly midpoint ,was a key shortcut across the Afon Conwy for locals and tourists. However, detailed structural reviews conducted in 2022 by specialists found that virtually the entire bridge would need to be refurbished, with the entire timber deck as well as other parts including the towers, which have rotated, replaced completely. The metalwork of this 93-year-old bridge has also reached the end of its life. It was anticipated the work could well take 12 months to complete. The costs are prohibitive. However, Conwy County Borough Council are, as at July 2023, currently exploring funding sources available from Welsh and UK Governments and plan possibly to replace this iconic bridge. Meanwhile the bridge remains closed.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright John S Turner and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Paths Primary Subject: Bridge other tags: Suspension Footbridge Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Afon [98] · Afon Conwy [52] · Sapper's Bridge [25] Title Clusters: · Sappers' Bridge over the Afon Conwy [3] ·
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SH7956, 695 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
John S Turner   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Tuesday, 12 February, 2019   (more nearby)
Submitted
Friday, 3 March, 2023
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SH 79625 56518 [1m precision]
WGS84: 53:5.5353N 3:47.9401W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SH 79649 56513
View Direction
West-northwest (about 292 degrees)
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Image Type (about): geograph 
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