Wye Bridge, Monmouth

The original wooden bridge was built in the Middle Ages; there is a clear reference to it in the fourteenth century. Earlier references to a bridge at Monmouth may refer either to a bridge over the Wye or to the fortified bridge over the Monnow,{{sfn|Rowlands|1994|pp=1-2}} although local historian Keith Kissack wrote that the bridge was known to exist in 1282 when it formed a boundary with the Forest of Dean.{{sfn|Kissack|1974|p=33}} It was completely rebuilt in stone in the early seventeenth century (1615–17). At that time, tolls were collected from all those crossing the bridge.{{sfn|Rowlands|1994|pp=1-2}}

A plaque on the parapet records the widening of the bridge on both sides in 1878–80 under the architect Edwin Seward of Cardiff, stating, This bridge was widened 1879 from designs by the County Surveyor, David Roberts Contractor.[http://www.ggat.org.uk/cadw/historic_landscape/wye_valley/english/wyevalley_035.htm Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust, Historic Landscape Characterisation, Wyesham]. Accessed 4 January 2012

The bridge is built of red and buff sandstone ashlar. It has five arched spans with the original pointed arches visible beneath, but with both faces covered by segmental arches carried on the sharply pointed cutwaters.{{Coflein|num=24231 |desc=Wye Bridge, Monmouth}} Accessed 4 January 2012 The total span is {{convert|71|m}}.{{sfn|Crow|1995|p=136}} The bridge is a Grade II listed structure.{{Cadw|num=2220|desc=Wye Bridge, Monmouth|grade=II|access-date=4 February 2024}}

At the southern, Wyesham, end of the bridge, and now largely concealed by road-widening, are two pillboxes dating from World War II.{{Coflein|num=270307|desc=Pillbox (Type Fw3-26), Monmouth|access-date=4 February 2024}} Such pillboxes formed part of the British hardened field defences which were constructed in the early part of the war in anticipation of a German invasion. The Wye Bridge pillboxes formed part of Western Command Stop Line No. 27 which followed the course of the River Wye. The pillboxes are scheduled monuments.{{Cadw|num=MM348|desc=May Hill Pillboxes|grade=SM|access-date=4 February 2024}}

The bridge is a crossing for the Wye but it is also the start of the Wysis Way, a long footpath that connects Monmouth to Kemble in Gloucestershire and to other national footpaths.

Image:A466 crosses the Wye - geograph.org.uk - 618248.jpg| A466 crosses the Wye Bridge, view towards Monmouth School

Image:The Wye Bridge, Monmouth - geograph.org.uk - 604148.jpg| Close up of an arch of the Wye bridge

Image:Monmouth Wye Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 288968.jpg| Plaque on the bridge: This bridge was widened in A.D 1879

File:Monmouth - Wye Bridge & Wye Bridge Street.jpg

File:Monmouth_raft_race.jpg| a view of Monmouth raft race from the bridge, 1960s

• List of crossings of the River Wye
• List of bridges in Wales

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book

|last=Crow |first=Alan

|title=Bridges on the River Wye

|year=1995

|url=

|publisher=Lapridge Publications

|location=

|isbn=0-9518589-9-8

}}

• {{cite book

|last=Kissack |first=Keith

|author-link=Keith Kissack

|title= Mediaeval Monmouth

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LDKAAAAAIAAJ&q=%22wye+bridge%22+monmouth

|year=1974

|publisher=Monmouth Historical and Educational Trust

|location=Monmouth

}}

• {{cite book

|last=Rowlands |first=M. L. J.

|title=Monnow Bridge and Gate

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pzUfAQAAIAAJ&q=Monnow+Bridge+and+Gate

|year=1994

|publisher=Alan Sutton

|location=Stroud

|isbn=978-0-7509-0415-5

}}

{{commonscat|Wye Bridge, Monmouth}}

{{Buildings in Monmouth}}

Category:Bridges in Monmouthshire

Category:Bridges across the River Wye

Category:Grade II listed bridges in Wales

Category:Grade II listed buildings in Monmouthshire

Category:Buildings and structures in Monmouth, Wales

Category:Former toll bridges in Wales

Category:Stone bridges in the United Kingdom