William Edwards was born at a farm named Ty Canol, Groeswen
in the parish of Eglwysilan in 1719, but lived most of
his life at Bryntail another farm in the same parish. His
father Edward Dafydd died when he was a child, with reports
stating that he was drowned whilst attempting to ford the
RiverTaff.
Edward's formal education was limited, and it is said
it wasn't until he was in his twenties that he learned
to read and write in English, his reading before then confined
to Welsh literature. He was described by a contemporary
as an ‘obstinate, stubborn and self-willed boy', aspects
of his character which would stand him in good stead when
embarking upon the building of his bridge at Pontypridd.
He was also a deeply religious man and became pastor of
the local Methodist chapel at Groeswen in his twenties,
a position he held until his death.
Edwards was a self-taught mason who learned solely through
self-study and experience. Although he was not unwilling
to learn from others and when some masons came to the area
to build a blacksmiths shed he assiduously learned to copy
their tools and building techniques. His talent in working
with stone meant he was soon recognised as the most expert
builder in the area. Indeed his reputation was such that
when it was decided a stone bridge was required to span
the River Taff he was approached to undertake the contract.
This contract signed with the Hundreds of Miskin and Caerphilly,
called for the building of a bridge over the River Taff and
the maintenance of said bridge for a period of seven years
The Bridge Today
The use of the William Edwards Bridge today
is restricted to pedestrians. The structure still stands
to this day as a monument to William Edward's ingenuity
and perseverance.
Building the Bridge
The first of Edward's bridges was more conventional than
the single span bridge for which he became famous, consisting
of three stone arches. However a little over two years after
it was built a heavy storm caused the River Taff to flood.
A considerable amount of flotsam was swept into the River
becoming trapped against the bridge supports. Eventually
the weight and force of this debris caused the bridge to
be swept away. This first attempt to build a bridge over
the fast flowing Taff and its eventual demise caused Edward's
to decide on a more radical solution, that of a single span
bridge which would be safe from the dangers of flooding.
For an account of the circumstances relating to Edward's
attempts to build a single arch bridge over the Taff we are
fortunate to have at The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
a number of contemporary manuscripts relating to the events,
one known as the Plasybrain manuscript and one written by
a contemporary of Edwards known as Thomas Morgan. Thus Thomas
Morgan says of Edward's first attempt to build a single span
bridge how, ‘…when he had almost finished the arch; the centre
timber work gave way and all fell to the bottom.' However
the Plasybrain manuscript says how, ‘Just after the first
single arch was finished and before the centre was struck,
a flood came and carried all away.' Whichever of these accounts
is accurate what is clear is that Edward's second attempt
to cross the Taff had once again ended in failure. Most men
would have been daunted by such successive failures, however
Edwards once again attempted to build a single span over
the River Taff.
Contemporary reports suggest that this time
the bridge was actually finished and stood for a period
of about six weeks before collapsing. Edward's inexperience
in this type of construction had become apparent with the
finished bridge being ill balanced forcing it's keystones
out once again causing a collapse. The ‘Gentleman's Magazine'
of the time reported how, ‘…the floods have carried away
an arch built over the Taff 144 feet wide.' In the article,
Theory of Arches and Pontypridd' it is stated that ‘the
weight of the bridge was either too great on the haunches
or too little on the crown.'
It was Edward's fourth and final bridge that was to gain
worldwide fame. With this bridge he inserted the famous
circular holes, of nine, six and four foot, through the
spandrels thereby lessening the weight and pressure on
the crown. Edward's bridge was unique and it's fame quickly
grew. Despite its fame, ‘The Theory of Arches and Pontypridd',
states that as a river crossing Edward's bridge was a dismal
failure, ‘being only eleven feet wide between the parapets
and so steep that wagons had to use a ‘chain and drag'
to descend from the crown.
Reports suggest that Edwards attempts to cross the Taff
at Pontypridd left him considerably in debt. Malkin at
the time stated that he was not indebted to anybody in
the construction apart from ‘his own industry and employment.'
However his contemporary Thomas Morgan states that by the
time of the building of the fourth bridge,' …the mason
was considerably in debt and greatly discouraged. But the
Lords Talbot and Windsor, who have estates in the neighbourhood
pitied his case, and being willing to encourage such an
enterprising genius, most generously promoted a subscription
among the gentry in those parts.'
After his success at Pontypridd both Edwards and his sons
continued to build bridges, some of which had long spans
and circular voids as at Pontypridd. However with the experience
gained from the bridge at Pontypridd Edward's later efforts
had built up approaches of reasonable gradient. An indication
of the fame and prestige enjoyed by Edwards due in great
measure to his achievements at Pontypridd can be shown
by his obituary from the Gentleman's Magazine of 1789:
‘At his house near Caerphilly, William Edwards,
architect and bridge- builder, or the Rev. William Edwards,
for he sustained both characters with equal assiduity and
ability… The celebrated bridge on the River Taff called Pont
Y Tu Pridd, by the English New Bridge was constructed by
this extraordinary man. His fame was diffused through the
kingdom and his assistance sought whenever difficulties occurred
in constructing bridges. He retained his passion for religious
exercises he retained a very large and mingled congregation
among which the Methodists predominated, and built bridges
to the age of 72 after which he died after sustaining a long
illness with exemplary patience.' A bronze tablet at Groeswen
Independent Chapel at which William Edwards was the minister
for forty years reads, ‘A builder for both worlds… Adeiladydd
I'r Ddeufydd'
