A Bridge Over Time

There has been a chain bridge crossing the River Dee at Berwyn for almost 200 years. Indeed, the river crossing tradition has been prevalent in this area since at least Roman times, when the original road built by them forded the Dee just below Llantysilio Hall, some 300 yards up-steam. This crossing was also utilised by the Cistercian Monks of the nearby Valle Crucis Abbey, up until its disillusionment in 1536.

The first true chain bridge was built on the current site by coal and ironmaster Exuperius Pickering in 1814 to link the Llangollen Canal and Telford’s new road, the current A5. This was used to carry coal over the Dee, thus saving Pickering 3 toll payments from his original route over Llangollen Bridge.

This chain bridge was of a different design to the present one, with its chains slung underneath the construction, resting on six hefty oak poles

Used by industry and public alike, this bridge lasted for over 50 years before rust got the better of it in 1870. This in itself is a remarkable achievement, considering the severe battering the bridge must have received at the hands of the annual flooding of the Dee.

Henry Robertson replaced it with his own construction in the same year. One of the owners of Brymbo Ironworks near Wrexham, he had acquired the bridge some years before. A well known bridge and railway builder, this second bridge was certainly a lot more elegant than its predecessor but of similar construction with the chains running beneath the decking.

It was repaired in 1909 following the heavy floods of that year but eventually succumbed to the Dee on 16th February 1928 after an exceptionally heavy flood brought down trees, which dammed against the two sets of pillars on the upstream side. At 6.20 p.m. the structure was swept downstream with parts reaching as far as Chester!

In the summer of 1929, Brymbo Steel Works, now under the son of Sir Henry Robertson, once again stepped in and constructed the present true suspension bridge. Six chains, spanning the river and canal, were suspended to support the decking from above, with two chains beneath. Although now only a footbridge, the new construction has become the most famous crossing of the River Dee along its entire length.

Unfortunately, wear resulted in the bridge’s closure in the mid 1980’s, a testament to the shear number of visitors that have trod its boards over the years. Thankfully, it has remained in place and can still be enjoyed in its spectacular setting.

Plans are in development to see the bridge fully restored and open to visitors once again. All developments will be added to this site so keep popping back for up-dates on this spectacular development.