Cardiff Bridge

{{Short description|Grade II listed building in Cardiff}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Use British English|date=March 2017}} [[File:Cardiff Bridge (geograph 6267384).jpg|300px|thumb|Cardiff Bridge]] '''Cardiff Bridge''' (also known locally as '''Canton Bridge''') is the road bridge crossing the [[River Taff]] at the approximate site of the original river crossing, close to [[Cardiff Castle]] in the centre of [[Cardiff]], Wales.

==Early history{{anchor|Cardiff Bridge Act 1580}}== {{Infobox UK legislation | short_title = Cardiff Bridge Act 1580 | type = Act | parliament = Parliament of England | long_title = An act for the re-edifying of Cardiff-bridge, in the county of Glamorgan. | year = 1580 | citation = [[23 Eliz. 1]]. c. 11 | territorial_extent = [[England and Wales]] | royal_assent = 18 March 1581 | commencement = 16 January 1581{{efn|Start of session.}} | repeal_date = 1 May 1702 | repealing_legislation = [[Bridges Act 1702]] | related_legislation = [[Bridges Act 1530]] | status = Repealed | original_text = https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000017915519&seq=763 | collapsed = yes }} [[File:Cardiff-Castle.jpg|thumb|250px|18th-century view of Cardiff with Cardiff Bridge in the left foreground]]

A bridge link crossing the Taff at Cardiff has existed since [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times,<ref name=britishlisted>{{cite web|title=Cardiff Bridge, Castle |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk./wa-26689-cardiff-bridge-riverside |publisher=British Listed Buildings |accessdate=14 December 2014 }}</ref> though a safer river crossing beyond the tidal range was preferred at [[Llandaff]], to the north.<ref name="Cardiff Biog">{{citation |last=Mortimer |first=Dic |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_pkFBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT170 |publisher=Amberley Publishing |title= Cardiff: The Biography |chapter=6 – Canton (including Pontcanna|year=2014|page=170|chapter-format=eBook |isbn=978-1-4456-4251-2 |accessdate=14 December 2014}}</ref> In 1582 the timber bridge was replaced by one built of stone,<ref name=cardifftimeline>{{cite web|title=Cardiff Timeline |url=http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/timeline.shtml |publisher=Cardiffians.co.uk |accessdate=14 December 2014 }}</ref> to the north of the current bridge and connecting to the town's Westgate. It was continually damaged by flooding and rebuilt in 1649, 1671 and 1720.<ref name="Cardiff Biog" /> When the Westgate was demolished in 1781 it was decided to relocate and rebuild the bridge. A narrow replacement was completed in 1796 (footpaths were later added supported by [[corbel]]s).<ref name=britishlisted /> In 1827 another huge flood swept away the bridge and traffic reverted to using the crossing at Llandaff.<ref name="Cardiff Biog" />

In 1859 a new stone bridge was built, incorporating parts of the earlier structure and with iron lattice railings. It was widened in 1877.<ref name=britishlisted />

==20th century== [[File:Cardiff Bridge plaque - geograph.org.uk - 1975691.jpg|left|thumb|Cardiff Bridge plaque]] In 1930/1 the bridge was almost completely replaced with the currently existing bridge. This has broad arches made from [[Reinforced concrete arch|reinforced concrete]] supported on stone pillars with a [[Rustication (architecture)|rusticated finish]].<ref name=britishlisted /> Above each pier was a [[cenotaph]]-style obelisk holding a [[bronze]] torch.<ref name="Cardiff Biog" />

The bridge was Grade II [[Listed building|listed]] in 2002, being a good and original pre-World War II reinforced concrete bridge.<ref name=britishlisted />

==21st century== In 2014 segregated [[cycle path]]s in each direction were constructed, separating cyclists from pedestrians and motor vehicles.<ref name="cyclelanes2014">{{cite news|author=Law, Peter |title=Cardiff motorists warned to expect delays as £150,000 scheme to create cycle lanes on bridge is agreed by council |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/cardiff-motorists-warned-expect-delays-5316816 |work=Wales Online |date=24 July 2013 |accessdate=19 December 2014 }}</ref>

The bridge was Grade II [[Listed building|listed]] in 2002, being a good and original pre-World War II reinforced concrete bridge.<ref name=britishlisted />

==See also== *[[List of bridges in Wales]]

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}}

[[Category:Bridges completed in 1931]] [[Category:Bridges in Cardiff]] [[Category:Bridges over the River Taff]] [[Category:Concrete bridges in Wales]] [[Category:Grade II listed bridges in Wales]] [[Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures in Wales]] [[Category:Road bridges in Wales]]