Hengoed Viaduct

Hengoed Viaduct
Coordinates	51°38′44.53″N 3°13′25.65″W
Carries	National Cycle Route 47
Other name(s)	Maesycwmmer Viaduct
Owner	Railway Paths Ltd
Characteristics
Material	Brick
Location

Hengoed Viaduct (Maesycwmmer Viaduct) is a Grade II* listed railway viaduct, located between the villages of Hengeod and Maesycwmmer, in Caerphilly county borough, South Wales. Originally built to carry the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway across the XXX, it is now part of National Cycle Route 47

Background

During the Industrial Revolution, and the mass-extraction of coal from the South Wales Coalfield, there was a resultant growth in construction of railways into the South Wales Coalfield. The Taff Vale Railway had so monopolised the trade of shipping coal to Cardiff Docks, that mine owners were desperate for competitor railway companies to both improve speeds of shipping, provide access to new markets, and hence reduce shipping rates.

The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway had become a feeder route for goods shipped to the West Midlands, and was willing to invest further for financial gain. The board hece approved construction of the difficult Taff Vale Extension, which would cut across the tops of the South Wales Valleys, and hence provide access to more collieries.

Construction

Maesycwmmer is still overshadowed by the vast Hengoed Viaduct, which dates from 1853 and which carried the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway over the Rhymney valley. In 2000 the viaduct was re-opened for public pedestrian access.

Today the village features the "Wheel o Drams" (locally known as "The Stargate") sculpture by Andy Hazell, an unusual piece of modern art formed from a circle of coalmining dram trucks to commemorate the industrial heritage of this locality within the history of the South Wales Valleys. The village shared three railway stations with neighbouring Hengoed over the years (see Hengoed railway station).

There are three pubs in Maesycwmmer: The Maesycwmmer Inn, The Butchers Arms and The Angel.

Maesycwmmer was a creation of the Industrial Revolution in the South Wales Coalfield. The houses built along the main road were purpose built for the workers that built the Maesycwmmer to Hengoed Viaduct. There is also a disused quarry in a field behind the houses of St Annes Gardens.

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The Hengoed Viaduct is also known as the Maesycwmmer Viaduct but was originally referred to as the Rhymney Viaduct. Whichever name you prefer, it is one of Wales’ most striking monuments of railway engineering and one of the oldest surviving viaducts of its type, an impressive landmark which has dominated the landscape of the Mid Rhymney Valley for over 150 years. Consisting of 16 arches towering 120 feet high at its highest point and 284 yards long, the Hengoed viaduct is slightly curved where the first arch on the eastern side was constructed at a skewed angle to accommodate the ‘lower level’ station for the Brecon and Merthyr main line that passed beneath it along the Rhymney Line in the Rhymney valley, South Wales. This route runs north from Cardiff to Heath, Llanishen, via a tunnel through Caerphilly mountain, onto Caerphilly, Hengoed and Rhymney.

This major structure on the ex-Rhymney Valley line was built to carry the Taff Vale Railway probably designed by T. W. Kennard to Charles Liddell's specifications, the contractors employed to carry out the work were Messrs Rennie and Logan who began work on this masonry structure mid 1853. The Hengoed viaduct was the last major project for the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway to complete the "Taff Vale Extension" before the line was opened in 1858. The final cost was one fatal accident during its construction and £20,000.00 (an equivalent sum of money at 2003 would be £1,430,400.00!). After the line closure in 1964, the Hengoed viaduct was offered for sale at a nominal sum of one pound (£1.00!) and is now owned by Railway Paths Ltd .

Railway Paths Ltd hold numerous parcels of former railway land, including over 700 bridges, viaducts and tunnels across the UK. Its’ remit is to develop these formations for walking and cycling routes in order to maintain their continuity for future public transport purposes. The Hengoed viaduct was opened for public access in 2000 and provides spectacular views when crossing the valley. More recently, the Hengoed viaduct became part of the National Cycle Network, the Celtic Trail, which provides a (mostly) traffic free cycle route from Quakers Yard to Newport. The grade 2* listed status of the Hengoed viaduct puts it, along with the so-called Nine-Arch Viaduct at Tredegar, as one of the two listed viaducts in Wales.

Hengoed viaduct

In April 2004, the Heritage Lottery Fund gave the Hengoed Viaduct a new lease of life thanks to a grant of £870,000.00 from the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales. An extensive programme of refurbishment has taken place to secure and improve the future of the Hengoed Viaduct including repairing and repointing to the pier bases, parapets and arches, as well as repairs to the remains of Hengoed ‘High Level’ Station at the western end of the viaduct. Works have improve public access and safety, with new fencing, viewing platforms and the installation of lighting.

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Hengoed Viaduct

Situated about 4 miles west from Crumlin Viaduct, work began on this masonry structure mid 1853.

Probably designed by T. W. Kennard to Charles Liddell's specifications. The contractors employed to carry out the work were Messrs Rennie and Logan.

Originally referred to as the "Rhymney Viaduct" it was also known as the "Maesycwmmer Viaduct".

This Viaduct was the last major project to be completed on the "Taff Vale Extension" before the line was opened in 1858.

Consisting of 16 arches, it is 284 yards long, 120 feet high and on a slight curve. There was only one fatal accident during its construction. The final cost being £20,000.

The first arch on the eastern side was constructed at a skewed angle to accommodate the Brecon and Merthyr main line that passed under it.

After the line close in 1964 it was offered for sale at a nominal sum of one pound. Today the Viaduct is opened to the public as a cycle path.