Hengoed/Maesycwmmer Viaduct

Hengoed/Maesycwmmer Viaduct The viaduct was built during the height of the Industrial Revolution, when the South Wales coalfield was expanding rapidly. Railways were desperately needed to transport coal, iron and other goods from the valleys towards the major ports and industrial centres. The railway was part of the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway. The route was designed to provide a direct railway connection between the industrial valleys and the wider railway network. Construction began in the 1850s, with the masonry work starting around 1853. Engineer Charles Liddell was responsible for the railway engineering, while Thomas W. Kennard was involved in the design of the viaduct. Local stone was used, and a quarry was established nearby specifically to provide material for the enormous structure. 🌉 A huge Victorian structure The finished viaduct has 16 arches, stretches for around 284 yards (260 metres) and rises approximately 120 feet (37 metres) above the valley. One of its unusual features is that it had to cross not only the River Rhymney, but also another railway and the station below. The eastern end therefore has a specially designed skewed arch. The scale of the project transformed Maesycwmmer. What had previously been a quiet rural area became increasingly associated with the railway and industry. Houses were even constructed for some of the workers building the viaduct. 🚂 The railway years The railway eventually opened in 1858, carrying both passengers and goods. For more than a century, trains crossed high above the Rhymney Valley, forming an important part of the railway network serving the South Wales industrial valleys. The route was eventually reduced to a single track, and the railway age came to an end in 1964, when traffic over the viaduct ceased and the track was removed following the Beeching-era railway closures. For several decades the magnificent structure had no railway traffic and fell into disrepair. 🚶 From railway to walking and cycling route Thankfully, the story didn't end there. The viaduct was acquired by Railway Paths in the late 1990s, and restoration work began. It was reopened to the public in 2000, giving walkers and cyclists the opportunity to cross the Rhymney Valley along the old railway route. Major conservation work followed, including repairs to the masonry, safety improvements, fencing, lighting and viewing areas. The route became part of the Celtic Trail and National Cycle Network, helping preserve the viaduct for future generations. Today, the viaduct is Grade II* listed as an important monument of railway engineering. From its elevated position, it provides spectacular views across the surrounding valley and remains one of the defining landmarks of Hengoed and Maesycwmmer. jamie williams drone photography