William Edwards (architect) facts for kids
William Edwards (born February 1719 – died August 7, 1789) was a clever Welshman. He was a Methodist preacher, but he was also a skilled stonemason, architect, and bridge engineer. He built many important bridges in Wales.
William was born in a small farmhouse in Eglwysilan, Caerphilly County Borough. His father died when William was only two years old, so his mother raised him. He started preaching in his early twenties. In 1745, he became a pastor at a new Independent chapel in Groeswen, where he stayed until he died.
He taught himself how to build with stone. When he was 27, he was asked to build a bridge over the river Taff for £500. He had to promise to keep it in good shape for seven years. After a few tries, he succeeded! He then went on to build many more bridges across South Wales.
When he passed away, William Edwards was buried in St Ilan's church in Eglwysilan. His tomb is a special historical site. Three of his sons, Thomas, David, and Edward, also became bridge builders. Two of them even built Newport bridge in 1801. Sadly, his fourth son, William, died fighting in Gibraltar.
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Early Life and Learning New Skills
William Edwards started his working life doing farm chores. But in the evenings, he learned arithmetic from a neighbor. He became very good at building dry-stone walls, which are walls made without using cement. People loved his neat walls, and he was always busy building them for farmers nearby.
Building Bridges: Challenges and Successes
In 1746, people wanted a bridge built over the river Taff. William Edwards was chosen for the job. His first bridge had three arches, but it didn't last long. About two and a half years after it was finished, a huge flood came down from the Brecon Beacons. Trees were swept away and got stuck against the bridge, causing the water to build up. The force of the flood eventually washed away the arches and piers.
William tried again with a new design, a single bold arch. But this second bridge also failed before it was even finished. His friends helped him get the money to build a third bridge. This time, he had a brilliant idea! To make the bridge stronger and lighter, he added three round holes or tunnels inside the stone structure. This clever design helped the bridge stand strong against the powerful river.
Some of his other important bridges included a large one over the river Usk in the town of Usk. He also built a bridge with three arches over the river Tawe near Swansea, and another single-arch bridge over the same river near Morriston.
In 1750, William became an official preacher for the Independents. Soon after, he was chosen to lead the church he belonged to. He continued to be a minister for about forty years until his death.
The Famous Pontypridd Bridge
William Edwards' most famous creation is the Old Bridge in Pontypridd. He worked on it between 1746 and 1756. The contract said he had to guarantee the bridge would last. Because of this, he actually built four bridges at the same spot! Only the last one survived the strong floods of the river Taff.
The first bridge had three arches, but a flood washed them away. His second try was a daring single arch, but it also collapsed before it was finished. The third attempt failed because the heavy sides of the bridge caused the middle part to break.
The fourth and final version of the Pontypridd bridge was amazing! It had a single arch that stretched 140 feet. When it was finished, it was the longest single-span bridge in the world! It was even 42 feet longer than the famous Rialto Bridge in Venice. William's genius idea was to make the bridge lighter by adding "holes" in the structure.
This incredible bridge still stands today! Even though a newer bridge next to it carries modern cars, Edwards' bridge is now used by people walking. The bridge opened in 1755 and celebrated its 250th birthday in 2005.
William Edwards also built or designed bridges in places like Aberafan, Betws, Cilycwm, Glasbury, Pontardawe, and Usk. He also helped plan the layout of Morriston, which was an industrial village near Swansea.
Bridges by William Edwards and His Sons
William Edwards and his sons built many important structures. Here are some of them:
- 1746–1756: The Old Bridge, Pontypridd, with one arch spanning 140 feet.
- 1746–1752: Usk Bridge in Usk, with five arches.
- Around 1768: Aberafan Bridge, with one arch spanning 70 feet.
- 1773: Dolauhirion Bridge, with one arch spanning 84 feet. This was built by his son Thomas Edwards.
- 1777: Glasbury Bridge, with seven arches. Also built by his son Thomas Edwards.
- 1778: Wychtree Bridge, with one arch spanning 95 feet.
- 1787: Cenarth Bridge, in Carmarthenshire. This was built by his son David.
Images for kids
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The Old Bridge in Pontypridd
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Usk bridge
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Old bridge at Pontardawe
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Dolauhirion bridge, Cilycwm
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Cenarth bridge
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