History of Conwy Suspension Bridge

A ferry existed before the construction of the bridge, which was reported to be inconvenient and dangerous. 

1801 – Following the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the communication line between London and Dublin become had a notoriously dangerous reputation, which warranted an investigation into delivering improvements.

1810-11 – Thomas Telford is employed to survey a perfect route for a mail coach road between Holyhead and Shrewsbury and delivers his report to the Lords of the Treasury, which included a proposed bridge by Conwy Castle. A small rocky island near the castle on the west bank did not pose a risk of being washed away by the tide; however, an embankment would be required to carry the approach from the east bank.

1815 – An Act of Parliament was obtained that 

duty included arranging, directing, and superintending all practical operations. A board of Parliamentary commissioners was appointed to oversee the surveys, estimates, contracts, payments, and inspection of works. The inspectors were nominated by Telford and approved by the board. Particularly difficult operations were contracted at a price fixed by Telford to a selection of experienced contractors.

1825 – The embankment carrying the eastern approach to the Conwy Suspension Bridge is completed. A casing of rubble stone was sunk at the outward extremity of the base on the seaward side to prevent the velocity of the current from sweeping away sections of the embankment.

1826 – The bridge is completed using the same principles employed on the Menai Suspension Bridge except the main chains were installed via a different process. The strong rope cables used for hoisting at the Menai strait were stretched across, between the tops of the supporting towers, six on each side of the bridge. The ropes were made to bear temporary platforms of planks; upon these, the chain was laid, and united with that portion of it which had been brought up from the fixation in the rock-galleries to the top of the towers. The platforms were then removed, the rope cables were slackened, and the chain lowered to a proper curvature. The castellated towers were created so that the bridge would complement the medieval castle that towers it. Conwy Suspension Bridge opened to traffic on 1^st July, the first passengers waved from their carriages and sang ‘God Save the King’ as loud as they could.

John Wilson undertook the masonry of the bridge, William Hazledine made the ironwork, Thomas Rhodes fitted and fixed it and W. A. Provis superintended all the operations. All these brought with them the experience obtained at the Menai bridge [1]. Telford did not even turn up in person during the construction of the bridge due to its smooth execution [2].

1834 – Telford inspects the embankment and bridge. He reports both remained in a very perfect state [1].

1848 – Conwy Tubular Railway Bridge is completed by Robert Stephenson next to the suspension bridge. The railway approaches the bridge using the same embankment constructed by Telford.

1896 – The original deck consisting of fir planks over a light iron framework is replaced. The new deck still exists today [3].

1950 – The bridge was designated a Grade I listed building [4].

1958 – The new road bridge is completed next to Conwy Suspension Bridge, which closes to vehicular traffic [4]. The embankment is widened, and new stone bastions are constructed on the northern face.

1965 – Ownership of the suspension bridge is transferred to the National Trust following a local uproar after the council proposed demolition. The trust received £38,368 from the accumulated bridge fund of £66,500 for repair and endowment [5]. An appeal is launched by the trust later in the year to raise an additional £6,500 to reach the £45,000 required to repair the bridge [6].

1976 – The bridge is repainted for the 150^th anniversary. It cost £6,600, which was raised through the job creation programme to help youngsters start a career in decorating. The overall project applied seven coats of paint to the bridge [7].

Tolls

A sign above the toll house details the tolls from the 1890s, which are as follows:

Toll	£	s	d
For every person passing on foot	0	0	1
For every person passing with a Truck or Wheelbarrow, Bicycle or such like carriage	0	0	2
For every Horse, Mule or ass laden or unladen and not drawing	0	0	2
For every Horse or Beast of draught drawing any Coach, Chariot, Brougham, Clarence, Sociable, Berlin, Calash, Landau, Tandem, Phaeton, Gig, Curricle, Barouche, Whiskey, Buggy or other Carriage	0	0	6
For every Horse or Beast of draught drawing any Wagon, Timber Carriage, Wain Cart, Van or Caravan Drag, Truck or other like vehicle	0	0	4
For every Engine, Carriage or other Vehicle propelled or moved by steam or machinery or otherwise than by animal power for each wheel thereof   PROVIDED that the Lessors shall be at liberty to refuse the passage over the bridge of any such Engine, Carriage or other vehicle if they consider that the structure of the Bridge would be thereby endangered.   PROVIDED ALWAYS that no Engine, Carriage or Wagon or other Vehicle weighing when loaded or unloaded more than Ten Tons shall be allowed to pass over the Bridge.	0	1	6
For every score of Oxen, Cows or meat Cattle	0	0	6
For ever score of Calves, Sheep, Lambs or Pigs   And so in proportion for any greater or less number, but in all cases where there shall be fractional part of a half penny in the amount of any tolls the sum of a half-penny shall be demanded and taken in lieu of such fractional part.   PROVIDED ALWAYS that tools shall only be payable once on the same day in the case of foot passengers, carriages and carts may pass and re-pass the Bridge more than once upon the same day.	0	0	4

Architecture and dimensions

No. of chains	8
No. of chain bars	5
No. of carriageways	1
Distance between points of suspension	327 ft	100 m
Depression or versed sine of curvature of the main chains	22.5 ft	6.9 m
Roadway breadth	17.5 ft	5.3 m
Roadway height above high-water	15 ft	4.6 m
Carriageway arch length	10 ft	3 m

The towers are castellated, each is composed of a pair of round turrets, with blind loops, spanning a segmental arch, and false machicolations to an embattled parapet. The outer faces have rebuilt gas lamps above the arches.

The deck is suspended from 4 tiers of original chains, with a 5th upper tier added later. On the east side these are anchored to a freestone and concrete plinth. On the west side they are anchored to the base of the castle and bedrock. The deck is laid with tarmac and has a painted balustrade of diamond-lattice ironwork [8].

How big is the Conway Embankment?

The embankment that carries the eastern approach to Conway Suspension Bridge is 666 yd (0.6 km) in length, the breadth at the top is 30 ft (27.4 m), its greatest height is 54 ft (49.5 m) [1].

Sources

1. Telford, T. (1838) in Rickman, J. (ed.) Life of Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer, Written by Himself. London: James and Luke G. Hansard and Sons.
2. Burton, A. (2015) Thomas Telford Master Builder of Roads and Canals. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Transport.
3. Cragg, R. (1997) Civil Engineering Heritage Wales and West Central England. London: Thomas Telford Publishing.
4. (1958) ‘Opening of The New Conway Bridge’, North Wales Weekly News, 18 December, p. 9.
5. (1965) ‘Conway Bridge Saved’, Birmingham Daily Post, 27 March, p. 5.
6. (1965) ‘£6,500 Appeal to Save Conway Bridge’, Cheshire Observer, 5 November, p. 14.
7. (1976) ‘Telford’s bridge is to be painted’, North Wales Weekly News, 1 July, p. 4.
8. Cadw (2021) Full Report for Listed Buildings. Available at: https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=&id=3234 (Accessed: 4 September 2021).