Llandrinio Bridge
Grade I listed bridge in Llandrinio, Powys, Wales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Llandrinio Bridge, Llandrinio, Powys, Wales, is a road bridge over the River Severn. Constructed between 1769 and 1775, the bridge is attributed to John Gwynn of Shrewsbury, a noted local architect who designed a number of crossings over the Severn, as well as Magdalen Bridge in Oxford. The bridge is also the site of defensive structures dating to World War II, including a pillbox disguised as an agricultural cowshed and Dragon's teeth tank traps at its northern end. The bridge is a Grade I listed structure and a Scheduled monument.
Llandrinio Pont Llandrinio Bridge in Wales | |
|---|---|
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| Coordinates | 52.7459°N 3.0407°W |
| Carries | Road traffic |
| Crosses | River Severn |
| Locale | Llandrinio, Powys, Wales |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Old Red Sandstone |
| Total length | 45.00 m (147.64 ft) |
| Width | 3.75 m (12.3 ft) |
| No. of spans | 3 |
| Piers in water | 2 |
| History | |
| Designer | John Gwynn |
| Construction start | 1769 |
| Construction end | 1775 |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name | Llandrinio Bridge |
| Designated | 26 October 1953 |
| Reference no. | 7666 |
| Official name | Llandrinio Bridge |
| Designated | 26 October 1953 |
| Reference no. | MG046 |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Llandrinio | |
History and description
Archdeacon Thomas, in his History of the Parish of Llandrinio published in 1895, suggested that the site of Llandrinio Bridge represented an ancient crossing, and identified a reference to a medieval ferry in a charter of 1309.[1] The present bridge was built between 1769 and 1775, almost certainly to the designs of John Gwynn.[a][2] Gwynn, a native of Shrewsbury, designed a number of crossings over the River Severn, including the English Bridge in his home town,[4] and Atcham Bridge in Shropshire.[5] He also worked in Oxford, designing the Covered Market[6] and Magdalen Bridge.[7]
At the outbreak of World War II, plans were made for the defence of Britain in the event of a German invasion. In the west, a defensive line, Western Command Stop Line No.1, followed the line of the Severn from Tewkesbury to Shrewsbury.[8] The line crossed the river at Llandrinio, and the bridge was fortified with a pillbox disguised as an agricultural shed and Dragon's teeth tank traps at its northern end.[9]
The Severn at Llandrinio is susceptible to flooding, which can lead to frequent closure of the bridge.[10][11][12] In 2015, particularly severe flooding led to fears that the bridge was at risk of collapse.[13] Subsequent investigations showed that several of the bridge's keystones had been removed by the floodwaters and a major programme of structural repair was required.[14]
On 27 October 2025, the bridge was badly damaged and a section of the parapet knocked into the river following a car crash.[15]
Llandrinio Bridge is constructed of pink sandstone. Three arches span the river at a length of 45 metres.[16] Scourfield and Haslam, in their Powys volume of the Pevsner Buildings of Wales, describe Llandrinio as a "humped narrow roadway, yet a most graceful line when seen from the [river] bank".[2] The bridge is a Grade I listed structure and a Scheduled monument.[17][18]
