Dinbren-uchaf Covert

There has been a crossing point over the River Dee at Berwyn as far back as Roman times, later serving the Cistercian monks of the nearby Valle Crucis Abbey. At the beginning of the 19th century plans were made to build the first bridge in this most beautiful of locations. Exuperius Pickering was a local entrepreneur dealing in limestone and slate. He had been involved in the building of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and had got to know Thomas Telford well. Telford had been given the work of building the now A5 from London to Holyhead following the latter being chosen as the main port between Britain and Ireland. The existing road was already a major coaching route but its condition was no better than a dirt track in many places. Pickering was quick to see the trading opportunity as the route of the new road would travel close to his works in Berwyn. In conjunction with Telford, the first Llangollen Chain Bridge was duly completed in 1814, the year before work started on the new road. This was made of wood, with chains slung underneath. It survived until 1870 before needing a complete refurbishment by another famous engineer Sir Henry Robinson, owner of the Brymbo Iron Works. Archive Link The bridge fell into disrepair SJ1943 : The Chain Bridge but thankfully, the adjacent Chain Bridge hotel has had new owners in recent years and they have now repaired the bridge as seen here.

The lower bridge (King's Bridge) carries the B5103 over the River Dee to join the A5 near Berwyn Railway Station. The higher bridge is a viaduct crossing a tributary which joins the River Dee and carrying the steam railway between Llangollen and Carrog. The photo was taken from the Chain Bridge SJ1943 : The Chain Bridge, a footbridge crossing the river from the Chain Bridge Hotel to Berwyn Station.

Class 47 No. 1566 calls at Berwyn station with the last service of the day for Llangollen during the Llangollen Railway's diesel gala.

There has been a crossing point over the River Dee at Berwyn as far back as Roman times, later serving the Cistercian monks of the nearby Valle Crucis Abbey. At the beginning of the 19th century plans were made to build the first bridge in this most beautiful of locations. Exuperius Pickering was a local entrepreneur dealing in limestone and slate. He had been involved in the building of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and had got to know Thomas Telford well. Telford had been given the work of building the now A5 from London to Holyhead following the latter being chosen as the main port between Britain and Ireland. The existing road was already a major coaching route but its condition was no better than a dirt track in many places. Pickering was quick to see the trading opportunity as the route of the new road would travel close to his works in Berwyn. In conjunction with Telford, the first Llangollen Chain Bridge was duly completed in 1814, the year before work started on the new road. This was made of wood, with chains slung underneath. It survived until 1870 before needing a complete refurbishment by another famous engineer Sir Henry Robinson, owner of the Brymbo Iron Works. Link Unfortunately, it is once more in a sorry state of repair and too dangerous to walk over.

The Bryntysilio Hall and estate are now owned by Walsall Education Services and is an Outdoor Education Centre.

On the left bank of the river Dee at Berwyn, with the rather rickety chain bridge after which it takes its name.

The Llangollen Railway runs trains for 7 ½ miles along the banks of the River Dee from Llangollen to Carrog via Berwyn, and it is hoped to continue to Corwen before too long.

Note the sign, the bridge is in "Danger of Collapse".

Great reasonably priced food.

Picnic tables are a very sad and forlorn sight in winter, when they probably won't be used for several months yet.

The River Dee / Afon Dyfrdwy flows past on the left and the Llangollen Canal sits to the right.

Camlas yn mynd heibio tu cefn i Westy'r Chainbridgre. Canal passing at the rear of the Chainbridge Hotel.

Berwyn, Denbighshire, Llangollen Heritage Railway (LHR), Berwyn Railway Station, Chain Bridge Hotel, River Dee

Berwyn, Denbighshire, Llangollen Heritage Railway (LHR), Berwyn Railway Station, River Dee

The chain bridge itself is currently in a dangerous state and out of use.