Carmarthen Bridge
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Carmarthen Bridge (also known locally as the Towy Bridge or Town Bridge) is the modern 1930s road bridge crossing the River Tywi in Carmarthen, Wales, carrying the A484 road.[1]
A stone bridge crossing the River Tywi at Carmarthen, nine miles from the river's mouth at the Bristol Channel,[2] was first recorded in 1233.[1] There was definitely no bridge at Carmarthen in 1188 when Giraldus Cambrensis visited. It is believed that a bridge was built during the 1233 siege of Carmarthen.[3] By 1326 the bridge had clearly become unusable, as it had been replaced by a boat service, and King Edward II allowed the collection of money from ferryboat men to fund a replacement crossing. The town's priory was still raising money for a replacement bridge in 1362.[3] Therefore, the bridge was repaired after this date. It was repaired and widened several times, in 1777 and 1834.[1] The old bridge had seven arches and was recorded in 1849 as having an iron balustrade.[2] The arches were divided by pointed cutwaters.[4] The old bridge was demolished in 1936 to make way for a modern replacement.[1]
