Railway Bridge East of A 470

The railway bridge east of the A 470 is a late 19th-century structure of special historic interest due to its connection with secret operations during World War II. After the fall of France in 1940, plans were made to evacuate national treasures to safe, undisclosed locations to protect them from invasion and bombing. The disused Manod slate quarry was selected to store the National Gallery's collection, and approximately 2,000 paintings were transported there in specially designed cases. The journey involved navigating a sharp bend under this bridge, which posed significant challenges for the larger lorries. Notably, Sir Anthony van Dyck's equestrian portrait of King Charles I had to be carried at an angle to fit under the bridge. To facilitate the transport, the road beneath the bridge was lowered by nearly 0.9 meters, and concrete reinforcing aprons were added. Despite these alterations, the lorry barely made it through after the air was let out of its tyres, and a photograph of this moment has become an iconic image from the War.

Architecturally, the bridge features a single span made of rough-dressed, snecked stone. It has pronounced voussoirs in the arch and a projecting string-course above. The bridge's foundations are supported by curved concrete aprons that are about 0.6 meters deep and 0.6 meters wide, and the roadway dips down as it passes beneath the arch. The bridge is listed for its significant historic interest.