{{Short description|Welsh architect (1719–1789)}} {{other people||William Edwards (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} [[File:Newbridge, Pontypridd.gif|thumb|Newbridge, Pontypridd]] '''William Edwards''' (February 1719 – 7 August 1789) was a Welsh [[Methodist]] [[minister of religion|minister]] who also practised as a [[stonemason]], [[architect]] and [[bridge]] [[engineer]].

Edwards was born the son of Edward David in [[Eglwysilan]], [[Caerphilly County Borough]] in a small farmhouse, and began preaching in his early twenties. In 1745, he became joint pastor of a newly established [[Union of Welsh Independents|Independent]] [[chapel]] at Groeswen, remaining in the post until his death.<ref name="encyclopedia">''The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales''. John Davies, [[Nigel Jenkins]], Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg106 {{ISBN|978-0-7083-1953-6}}</ref>

He taught himself the rudiments of masonry and at the age of 27 was commissioned to build a bridge over the Taff for £500 and to maintain it for 7 years. After several attempts he succeeded and went on to build further bridges across south Wales.

On his death, he was buried in St Ilan's church in Eglwysilan, where his tomb is a grade II* listed structure.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-21957-tomb-of-william-edwards-in-the-churchyard|title= Tomb of William Edwards in the churchyard of St Ilan, Eglwysilan, Aber Valley|publisher= British Listed Buildings|access-date = 14 January 2014}}</ref>

Three of his sons (Thomas, David and Edward) also became bridge builders, two of whom built Newport bridge in 1801. A fourth son (William) was killed in action at Gibraltar.<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s-EDWA-WIL-1719|title=EDWARDS, WILLIAM (1719 - 1789), Independent minister, and architect|first=Edward Ivor|last=Williams|year=1959|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref>

==Early life==

His father died when he was only two years old. William was brought up by his mother. Edwards' first employment was common farm work. But at the same time he was taking lessons in arithmetic from a neighbor in the evenings. Edwards soon become so expert in dry-stone wall building that he was extensively employed in repairing and building dry-stone walls for the neighboring farmers. His walls were observed to be so neat that he was everywhere in request.<ref name="Lives of the Engineers">{{cite book |last= Smiles|first=Samuel |date=1874 |title=Lives of the Engineers |url=https://archive.org/details/livesengineers05smilgoog |publisher=J. Murray |page=[https://archive.org/details/livesengineers05smilgoog/page/n92 73] }} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==Career==

In 1746, when it was proposed to throw a bridge over [[river Taff]], he was employed to build it. However, Edwards had not sufficiently provided for the passage of the floods, which in certain seasons rush down from the [[Brecon Beacons]]. It proved to be a serious obstruction in the way of a heavy flood which swept down the valley about two years and a half after the bridge had been completed. Trees were torn up by the roots and carried down the stream and dammed the torrent. Force finally swept away arches and piers together, carrying the materials far down the river. Edward's second bridge was a failure because of daring experimentation. His friends generously came forward and helped him with the means of building his third bridge, which proved a complete success. The plan which he adopted, of more equally balancing the work and relieving the severe thrust upon the [[Haunch (arch)|haunch]]es, was to introduce three cylindrical holes or tunnels in the masonry at those parts of the bridge.<ref name="Lives of the Engineers"/>

Among the more important of the later works of Edwards were the large bridge over the [[river Usk]], at the town of [[Usk]], in [[Monmouthshire]]; one, of three arches, over the [[river Tawe]], near [[Swansea]]; another, of one arch of 95 feet span, over the same river near [[Morriston]].

In 1750, he became an ordained preacher among the independents. Shortly after, he was chosen minister of congregation to which he belonged, and he continued to hold the office for about forty years, until his death.<ref name="Lives of the Engineers" />

==Famous bridges==

[[Image:Pontypridd New Bridge.jpg|thumb|Old and new bridge in Pontypridd]] Edwards' most famous creation was the [[Old Bridge, Pontypridd|Old Bridge]] at [[Pontypridd]], built between 1746 and 1756. The contract included a "guarantee" clause, and Edwards actually constructed four successive bridges at the same site, with only the last surviving the torrential waters of the [[river Taff]]. The first bridge had three arches which were swept away by flood water after two and a half years. The second, a bold single arch design, was also swept away before completion. The third attempt failed due to the weight of the [[Haunch (arch)|haunch]]es causing the centre to fail.

At 140&nbsp;ft, the fourth and final version was the largest single-span bridge in the world when it was completed, exceeding the previous largest, the [[Rialto Bridge]] in Venice, by some 42 feet. Edwards' master-stroke was to lighten the weight of the [[Haunch (arch)|haunch]]es by leaving "holes" in the structure. The resulting construction still stands today, although another bridge next to it carries modern traffic and Edwards bridge is only now used by pedestrians. The bridge opened in 1755 and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2005.

Edwards also went on to build or design bridges in [[Aberafan]], [[Betws, Carmarthenshire|Betws]], [[Cilycwm]], [[Glasbury]], [[Pontardawe]] and [[Usk]], and was also responsible for the layout of [[Morriston]], the planned industrial village near Swansea developed by the Swansea Valley industrialist [[Sir John Morris]].<ref name="encyclopedia"/>

==Works by Edwards (and sons)== :Source<ref>{{cite book|title= A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland |first= A.W.|last = Skempton|year = 2002}}</ref>

* c. 1740 Forge at [[Cardiff]] * 1746–1756 [[Old Bridge, Pontypridd]]. 1 arch, 140&nbsp;ft span. * 1746–1752 [[Usk Bridge (Usk)|Usk Bridge]], [[Usk]]. 5 arches. Widened 1856. * ? Beaufort Bridge. 3 arches. Demolished 1868. * ? [[Pontardawe]] Bridge. 1 arch, 80&nbsp;ft span. * ? Betws Bridge. 1 arch, 45&nbsp;ft span. * 1760s Workshops at Morriston * c. 1768 Aberafan Bridge, 1 arch, 70&nbsp;ft span. Demolished 1842. * c. 1768 [[Morriston]] new town. * 1773 [[Dolauhirion Bridge]]. 1 arch, 84&nbsp;ft span. Built by son Thomas Edwards. * 1777 [[Glasbury]] Bridge. 7 arches. Built by son Thomas Edwards. Destroyed by flood, 1895. * 1778 Wychtree Bridge. 1 arch, 95&nbsp;ft span. Demolished 1959. * 1779 [[New Bridge, Newbridge-on-Usk]]. * 1782 Chapel of Libanus, Morriston (part-time) * 1787 [[Cenarth Bridge]], Carmarthenshire. Built by David. * 1794 [[Usk Bridge (Brecon)|Usk Bridge]], [[Brecon]], widened by Thomas.<ref name="CADW">{{National Historic Assets of Wales|num= 6815 |desc= Usk Bridge |grade= I |access-date= 13 July 2019 }}</ref>

<gallery> File:Rev William Edwards. Bridge builder. Porch. St Ilan's Church, Eglwysilan. Abber Valley, Caerphilly.jpg|Memorial plaque. St Ilan's Church. File:Old Bridge, Pontypridd.jpg|Old bridge in Pontypridd File:Usk Bridge, Usk - geograph.org.uk - 1268258.jpg|Usk bridge File:Old Bridge, Pontardawe (geograph 3566053).jpg|Old bridge at Pontardawe File:Pont Dolauhirion - geograph.org.uk - 980019.jpg|Dolauhirion bridge, Cilycwm File:Cenarth Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1122380.jpg|Cenarth bridge </gallery>

==Literature== * Colvin H. A. (1995) ''Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840'', Yale University Press, 3rd edition London, 336–337. Provides listing of his work with references to further articles about Edwards.

==See also== *[[Dolauhirion Bridge]]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, William}} [[Category:1719 births]] [[Category:1789 deaths]] [[Category:People from Caerphilly County Borough]] [[Category:18th-century Welsh Methodist ministers]] [[Category:18th-century Welsh architects]]