William Edwards

William Edwards was born at a farm named Tŷ Canol, Groeswen, in the parish of Eglwysilan, in 1719, but lived most of his life at Bryn-tail, another farm in the same parish. His father, Edward Dafydd, died when he was a child, with reports stating that he was drowned whilst attempting to ford the River Taff.

Edward's formal education was limited, and it is said it wasn't until he was in his twenties that he learned to read and write in English, his reading before then confined to Welsh literature. He was described by a contemporary as an ‘obstinate, stubborn and self-willed boy', aspects of his character which would stand him in good stead when embarking upon the building of his bridge at Pontypridd. He was also a deeply religious man and became pastor of the local Methodist chapel at Groeswen in his twenties, a position he held until his death.

Edwards was a self-taught mason who learned solely through self-study and experience. Although he was not unwilling to learn from others and when some masons came to the area to build a blacksmiths shed, he assiduously learned to copy their tools and building techniques. His talent in working with stone meant he was soon recognised as the most expert builder in the area. Indeed, his reputation was such that when it was decided a stone bridge was required to span the River Taff, he was approached to undertake the contract.

This contract signed with the Hundreds of Miskin and Caerphilly, called for the building of a bridge over the River Taff and the maintenance of said bridge for a period of seven years.

The Old Bridge

The Old Bridge 2006 - NEED A NEW PIC

The use of the William Edwards Bridge today is restricted to pedestrians. The structure still stands to this day as a monument to William Edward's ingenuity and perseverance.

The first of Edward's bridges was more conventional than the single span bridge for which he became famous, consisting of three stone arches. However, a little over two years after it was built, a heavy storm caused the River Taff to flood. A considerable amount of flotsam was swept into the River becoming trapped against the bridge supports. Eventually, the weight and force of this debris caused the bridge to be swept away. This first attempt to build a bridge over the fast-flowing Taff and its eventual demise caused Edwards to decide on a more radical solution, that of a single span bridge which would be safe from the dangers of flooding.

For an account of the circumstances relating to Edwards’ attempts to build a single arch bridge over the Taff, we are fortunate to have at The National Library of Wales, a number of contemporary manuscripts relating to the events, one known as the Plasybrain manuscript and one written by a contemporary of Edwards known as Thomas Morgan. Thus, Thomas Morgan says of Edwards’ first attempt to build a single span bridge how, ‘…when he had almost finished the arch; the centre timber work gave way and all fell to the bottom.' However the Plasybrain manuscript says how, ‘Just after the first single arch was finished and before the centre was struck, a flood came and carried all away.' Whichever of these accounts is accurate, what is clear is that Edwards’ second attempt to cross the Taff had once again ended in failure. Most men would have been daunted by such successive failures, however Edwards once again attempted to build a single span bridge over the River Taff.

Reports suggest that Edwards’ attempts to cross the Taff at Pontypridd left him considerably in debt. Malkin at the time stated that he was not indebted to anybody in the construction apart from ‘his own industry and employment'. However, his contemporary Thomas Morgan states that by the time of the building of the fourth bridge, '…the mason was considerably in debt and greatly discouraged. But the Lords Talbot and Windsor, who have estates in the neighbourhood pitied his case, and being willing to encourage such an enterprising genius, most generously promoted a subscription among the gentry in those parts'.

After his success at Pontypridd both Edwards and his sons continued to build bridges, some of which had long spans and circular voids as at Pontypridd. However, with the experience gained from the bridge at Pontypridd, Edwards’ later efforts had built up approaches of reasonable gradient. An indication of the fame and prestige enjoyed by Edwards due in great measure to his achievements at Pontypridd, can be shown by his obituary from the Gentleman's Magazine of 1789:

‘At his house near Caerphilly, William Edwards, architect and bridge-builder, or the Rev. William Edwards, for he sustained both characters with equal assiduity and ability… The celebrated bridge on the River Taff called Pont Y Tŷ Pridd, by the English New Bridge was constructed by this extraordinary man. His fame was diffused through the kingdom and his assistance sought whenever difficulties occurred in constructing bridges. He retained his passion for religious exercises and he retained a very large and mingled congregation among which the Methodists predominated, and built bridges to the age of 72 after which he died after sustaining a long illness with exemplary patience.' A bronze tablet at Groeswen Independent Chapel at which William Edwards was the minister for forty years reads, ‘A builder for both worlds… Adeiladydd i'r Ddeufydd'.