Suspension Bridges Crossing River Conwy

This is a list of all 4 bridges from the suspension bridge inventory crossing River Conwy. Please note that different rivers with the same name will be grouped together. For example, selecting 'Bear Creek' shows bridges across several different Bear Creeks. Also, similarly named rivers are grouped separately. For example, 'River Dee' (UK) bridges are grouped separately from 'Dee River' (Australia) bridges. Wherever you see a Bridgemeister ID number click it to isolate the bridge on its own page.

Related Lists:

1826: Conwy

Conwy, Wales, United Kingdom - River Conwy
Bridgemeister ID:380 (added before 2003)
Year Completed:1826
Name:Conwy
Also Known As:Conway
Location:Conwy, Wales, United Kingdom
Crossing:River Conwy
Coordinates:53.280476 N 3.823742 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Principals:Thomas Telford
References:AAJ, BBR, BC3, BCO, BEM, HBE, MOS, NTB, PTS2
Use:Vehicular
Status:Restricted to foot traffic (last checked: 2021)
Main Cables:Chain (iron)
Suspended Spans:1
Main Span:1 x 99.7 meters (327 feet)

Notes:

Annotated Citations:

  • "Conway Suspension Bridge." The Engineer, 20 May 1904.

    Details regarding the 1904 reinforcement project: "...It was therefore decided to renew all the suspension rods, and pins, and to fix steel cables above the suspension links, to supplement them so that the maximum stress in the links due to any possible travelling load should not exceed 5 tons per square inch. It was also decided to build a stiffening girder coupled to the suspension rod on each side of the bridge, and at the same time to widen the bridge by building a footway 6ft. wide outside the suspenders on the north side of the bridge."

External Links:

Photograph, collection of David Denenberg Photo by Dave Cooper Postcard, collection of Jochem Hollestelle

1904: (footbridge)

Conwy, Wales, United Kingdom - River Conwy
Bridgemeister ID:512 (added before 2003)
Year Completed:1904
Name:(footbridge)
Location:Conwy, Wales, United Kingdom
Crossing:River Conwy
Coordinates:53.280346 N 3.823733 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Principals:Alfred Thorne
Use:Footbridge
Status:Removed
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1

Notes:

  • This entry refers to the steel suspension footbridge nestled between Telford's suspension bridge and Stephenson's rail bridge. Click the photo to get a better view of this bridge. According to Susan Ellis, Senior Archivist of the Conwy County Borough Council, the bridge was built on the recommendation of John J. Webster who was hired to inspect Telford's suspension bridge in 1902 "following fears about the safety of its condition. He reported back making various recommendation for strengthening the bridge, including that a separate footbridge be constructed."
  • This footbridge was in existence until at least 1957.
  • Next to 1826 Conwy (Conway) - Conwy, Wales, United Kingdom.

Annotated Citations:

  • "Conway Suspension Bridge." The Engineer, 20 May 1904.

    This detailed account of the 1904 reinforcement of Telford's adjacent bridge does not mention the existence of, or building of, an additional footbridge. It does describe adding a cantilevered walkway to one side of Telford's bridge. This walkway was, indeed, built, and can be seen in the linked image on the left side of the older bridge. Thus, it is not entirely clear whether this bridge was actually constructed in 1904 and the work of Alfred Thorne (who was very much associated with the Telford bridge reinforcement project)

Photograph, collection of David Denenberg Postcard, collection of Jochem Hollestelle

1930: Sappers'

Betws-y-Coed, Wales, United Kingdom - River Conwy
Bridgemeister ID:445 (added before 2003)
Year Completed:1930
Name:Sappers'
Location:Betws-y-Coed, Wales, United Kingdom
Crossing:River Conwy
Coordinates:53.09221 N 3.79928 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Principals:David Rowell & Co.
Use:Footbridge
Status:Closed, December 2021 (last checked: 2023)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1

Notes:

  • 2021, December: Closed due to deteriorating condition. Repairs expected to start in April 2022.
  • 2023, February: Still closed. May be replaced.

Annotated Citations:

  • Evans, Hari. "Near century old Snowdonia wobbly bridge that's rotting away and may soon be replaced." North Wales Live, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/near-century-old-snowdonia-wobbly-26198160.

    "The suspension bridge used to be renowned for its wobbly midpoint and was a key shortcut across the River Conwy for locals and tourists. However, structural reviews conducted last year found that virtually the entire bridge would need to be refurbished, with the entire timber deck as well as other parts replaced completely."

External Links:

Postcard, collection of David Denenberg Photo by Brian Duguid Photo by Dave Cooper

Gower

Llanrwst and Trefriw, Wales, United Kingdom - River Conwy
Bridgemeister ID:514 (added before 2003)
Name:Gower
Also Known As:Gower Road
Location:Llanrwst and Trefriw, Wales, United Kingdom
Crossing:River Conwy
Coordinates:53.14310 N 3.80687 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
References:BEM
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2013)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1

Photo by Dave Cooper


Do you have any information or photos for these bridges that you would like to share? Please email david.denenberg@bridgemeister.com.


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