Caerleon to Abergavenny

From Caerleon to Usk

Pant Gwyn limekilns, Llanhennock - ST 3678 9260

Pant Gwyn limekilns

Pant Gwyn limekilns

Pant Gwyn limekilns

Wheatsheaf Inn signal post

Cefn Ila, Llanbadoc - SO 3615 0045

Dating from the mid-Victorian period, Cefn Ila was a large Victorian house with extensive grounds including a pond. In 1925 the estate passed to Pontypool Hospital who used it a a convalescent, casualty and maternity unit until 1973 when it was burnt down. Since then it has been purchased by 'The Woodland Trust' who are restoring and enhancing the grounds.

Culvert under the Drive	Culvert under the Drive	Culvert under the Drive	Fence pillar on the Drive
Air filter from a Land-Rover	The greenhouse heater	The greenhouse heater	'The Alexandra Roller'
A valve key in the orchard	The well by the pond	The pump house by the pond	Footpath through the woodland

Hydraulic Ram pump

The hudraulic ram pump probably ran a fountain and appears to be a "No 4 Easton & Amos (London & Erith) 3 inch new no. 30 simple ram 1854". In 2016 the pumphouse was lost in the jungle and very tumble-down but just two years later it was restored. I wonder if they can ever get the hydraulic ram working again?

Hydraulic Ram pump, 2016	Hydraulic Ram pump, 2016	Hydraulic Ram pump, 2016	Hydraulic Ram pump, 2016
Hydraulic Ram pump, 2018	Hydraulic Ram pump, 2018	Hydraulic Ram pump, 2018

Glascoed pillbox - SO 3590 0087
Cilwrgi limekilns - ST 3400 9828

Just over the fence from Cefn Ila lies this WW2 pillbox, unfortunately on the heavily protected property of what used to be Glascoed Royal Ordnence Factory. The Cilwrgi limekiln is a little further West.

Glascoed pillbox, type fw3/23

Glascoed pillbox, type fw3/23

Llandegfedd, Cilwrgi limekilns

Glascoed Limestone Quarries - SO 330020

Ancient underground limestone quarries rumoured to date back to the 1600s and first dug by local monks. Sometimes thought to be iron mines due to a high iron content apparently.

Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry
Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry
Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry
Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry	Glascoed limestone quarry

The Railway through Usk - SO 3753 0123

The Railway through Usk was opened in 1856 by the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway, soon becoming part of the GWR. The line closed to passengers in 1955 and goods traffic ceased soon after. The trackbed through the tunnel and over the viaduct is now a footpath.

The railway through Usk, 1918	Usk goods yard	Viaduct over the River Usk	Viaduct over the River Usk
Viaduct over the River Usk	Abergavenny Road bridge	Abergavenny Road bridge	Abergavenny Road bridge
Station buildings, Usk	The Eastbound platform, Usk	Western portal of Usk tunnel	Western portal of Usk tunnel
Looking East in Usk tunnel	A refuge in Usk tunnel	A refuge in Usk tunnel	A break in the lining of Usk tunnel
Insulators at the Eastern portal	Eastern portal of Usk tunnel Usk	Eastern portal of Usk tunnel	Trackbed East of the tunnel, Usk
Monmouth Road bridge

Usk and Raglan Brickworks

Castle Brickworks, Usk

'Day Usk Mon'

Raglan Brickworks

'Jones Raglan'

From Usk to Abergavenny

Goytre Wharf - SO 3127 0634

Goytre Wharf is now a marina but was originally a set of limekilns below the canal level fed from a small dock. The large drawholes are preserved and one of the three pots. Unfortunately the tramroad wagon and track is just a tourist tableau, wrong track, wrong wagon and there never was a tramroad here. The cast-iron railroad track is quite unusual, you see many tramplates but rarely railroad track.

Goytre Wharf limekilns	Goytre Wharf limekilns	Goytre Wharf limekilns	Goytre Wharf limekilns
A length of railroad track	Tramroad wagon and track	Tramroad wagon and track	The weighing machine cottage

Llanover

Garnclochdy limekilns, Llanover

Garnclochdy limekilns, Llanover

Llanover water supply

Llanellen and Llanfoist

Castle Prydydd dam, Llanellen	Castle Prydydd feeder	Little Cefn-y-Coed Cottage
House below Ffrwd Wood	House below Ffrwd Wood	House below Ffrwd Wood	Little Pen-y-Graig Farm

The Bryn, Bettws Newydd and Nantyderry

Bettws Newydd Pillbox 1	Bettws Newydd Pillbox 1	Bettws Newydd Pillbox 2	Bettws Newydd Pillbox 2
Bettws Newydd Pillbox 1	The Bryn Pillbox		Nantyderry, Class 47, c1978

The Craig-yr-hafod Tramroad

The Craig-yr-hafod Tramroad

The Craig-yr-hafod Tramroad ran from a quarry at Craig-yr-hafod to a limekiln at Twyn Glas, Llanellen, near but not on the canal bank. it opened in 1811 or 1812 to a gauge of 2' 9". It was cheaply constructed with few earthworks and used small blocks as sleepers. The sleepers do not appear to have had chairs on them and it seems the line was little used, the closure date is unknown. The lower part of the line to the kiln is very hard to find but the route can be traced from the lane crossing at Bryn Bedw to the hillside above White House Farm.

Craig-yr-hafod Tramroad

Craig-yr-hafod Tramroad

Craig-yr-hafod Tramroad

Craig-yr-hafod Tramroad

Craig-yr-hafod Quarry - SO 2742 1024

Craig-yr-hafod Quarry and Limekiln

The tramroad at Craig-yr-hafod	The tramroad at Craig-yr-hafod	The tramroad at Craig-yr-hafod
The tramroad near Craig-yr-hafod	Dram wheel at Craig-yr-hafod	Craig-yr-Hafod Limekiln
Craig-yr-Hafod Limekiln	Craig-yr-Hafod Limekiln	Craig-yr-Hafod Limekiln

The Upper Section

The Craig-yr-hafod Tramroad from Craig-yr-hafod to White House Farm

Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad
Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad

The Middle Section

The Craig-yr-hafod Tramroad from White House Farm to Bryn Bedw

Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad
Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad
Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad
Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad culvert	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad sleeper	Craig-yr-Hafod Tramroad sleeper

Abergavenny to Gilwern

The Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway started its tortuous route up the Clydach Gorge and over the Heads of the Valleys to Merthyr at Abergavenny Junction. The route crosses so many valleys that it has a page to itself :- The Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway

Around Abergavenny

Abergavenny Town

Replica waterwheel in Mill Street	Delafields advert in Union Street	Delafields advert in Union Street
Abergavenny Station, Class 37	Abergavenny Station, Class 46	Abergavenny Station, Class 47

Grwyne Fawr reservoir - SO 2323 3074

Grwyne Fawr reservoir

Grwyne Fawr reservoir

Govilon

Baileys Tramroad from Nantyglo Ironworks wound its way down the Clydach Gorge to the wharf on the Brecon and Abergavenny Canal at Govilon. Full details of the route of the tramroad can be found on its own page here :- Bailey's Govilon Tramroad. The tramroad was later rebuilt as the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway and that has its own page as well :- The Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway

Baileys Tramroad canal bridge	Baileys Tramroad canal bridge	The canal basin, Govilon	The canal basin, Govilon
The canal basin, Govilon	Canal offices, Govilon	Bailey's Warehouse, Govilon
The canal at Govilon	The canal at Govilon	Govilon fingerpost	Upper Mill, Govilon

Wilden Wireworks, Govilon - SO 2607 1345

Wilden wireworks drawing	Wilden Wireworks, Govilon	Wilden Wireworks, Govilon	Wilden Wireworks, Govilon
Wilden wireworks, Govilon	Wilden wireworks, Govilon	Wilden wireworks, Govilon	Wilden wireworks, Govilon
Wilden wireworks, Govilon	Wilden wireworks, Govilon	Wilden wireworks, Govilon	Wilden wireworks, Govilon
Wilden wireworks, Govilon	Wilden wireworks, Govilon	Wilden wireworks, Govilon

Gilwern

Gilwern was a busy transport hub where the Clydach Railroad and Llammarch Tramroad met the canal and the MTAR passed close by. The Llammarch Tramroad ended its journey here and its route is recorded here :- 'The Llammarch Tramroad'. The Clydach Railroad centred on Gilwern, coming from Beaufort in one direction and Glangrwyney from the other. Its story is told here :- 'The Clydach Railroad'. The Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway also has its own page as well :- 'The Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway'

Dan-y-bont woollen mill	Dan-y-bont woollen mill	Dan-y-bont woollen mill	Llanelly Wharf limekilns
Llanelly Wharf limekilns	Llanelly Wharf limekilns	Llanelly Wharf limekilns	Llanelly Wharf limekilns
How they built the embankment	Clydach Wharf and dock	Clydach Wharf and dock	Clydach Wharf and dock
Clydach Wharf and dock	A pipeline near the Clydach river	Clydach River tunnel	Rail from the Clydach Railroad

Gilwern Quarry - SO 2470 1415

Gilwern Quarry had its own siding from the opening of the MTAR and probably Baileys Govilon Tramroad before that. It is still being worked on a small scale in 2019.

Gilwern Quarry	Gilwern Quarry	Gilwern Quarry	Gilwern Quarry
Gilwern Quarry	MTAR siding into Gilwern Quarry

Glangrwyney Valley

Paper, Board, Corn and Woollen Mills and a Forge

The Glangrwyney Valley was a busy industrial scene from the C18th and continuing to 1950, particularly for paper and board mills producing the blue bags to contain sugar. In 1891 Straker and Son sold the Cwrt-y-Gollen Estate by auction, which included most of the mills operating then.

Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney - SO 2395 1611

A friend recently visited Usk Paper Mill at Glangrwyney and found much machinery inside, probably from its paper-making days. Most exciting were the two Francis type water turbines dating from 1889 still in situ. It was originally Llangrwyne Forge, working from c1720 to 1842, and was the terminus of the Clydach Railroad, linking it to the canal and Sirhowy Ironworks. From c1848 to 1948 it was 'Usk Paper Works', in the 1960s a wood saw-dust distillery and finally an agricultural machinery repair shop.

Usk Paper Mill, 1879	Usk Paper Mill, 1916	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney
Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney
Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney
Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney
Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney
Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney
Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney
Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney
Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney	Usk Paper Mill, Glangrwyney

Llangrwyne Forge - SO 2394 1611

It was originally Llangrwyne Forge, working from c1720 to 1842, and connected to the Clydach Railroad, linking it to the canal and Sirhowy Ironworks. From c1848 to 1948 it was Usk Paper Mill, in the 1960s a wood saw-dust distillery and finally an agricultural machinery repair shop.
Lot 7 in the 1891 sale describes it as a water and steam powered mill with chopping and beating houses, paper stores and loft, machine house, smithy, boiler room, weighing machine, lime house, chimney stack and other useful buildings. There was also an iron store, oil house and paper sorting shed. A substantial cottage of six rooms and larder were suitable for the foreman and the commodious residence of 'Glangrwyney House' or 'Forge House' were a convenient distance away from the mills.

Llangrwyne Forge pond

Llangrwyne Forge pond leat

Golden Grove Millboard Mill - SO 2403 1775

The 1891 lot 3, Golden Grove Millboard Mill consisted of a vat room with two vats, stove house, sorting, packing and stock rooms, rolling house, drying lofts equiped with tanks, presses and rag engine, a 15ft x 3.5ft breastshot waterwheel, all rebuilt after a recent fire and producing 6 tons of board per month, plus an office, residence and cottage.

Golden Grove board mills, 1899	Golden Grove board mills	Golden Grove board mills	Golden Grove board mills
Golden Grove board mills

Millbrook Millboard Mills - SO 2404 1712

In 1891 as lot 16 Millbrook Millboard Mills included rooms for two vats, sorting, chopping, drying and storage. There were two overshot waterwheels and the mill produced 2 tons of board per week. They were rented to Hallesy and Co for £45 per year.

Millbrook Flour Mill - SO 2404 1712

Millbrook Grist (flour) Mill was lot 17 and was described as a substantial three storey mill with two overshot waterwheels driving three pairs of stones, smutter, bolter, hoppers and bins. The sale included Pear Tree Cottage with 4 bedrooms, wine cellar, two-stall stable and coach house. The adjacent 'dwelling' had accommodation for 3 horses, 2 cows, calves, 3 piggeries and a cart house. The grist mill was let to George Addis at £65 per year.

Millbrook board mills, 1899	Millbrook board mills	Millbrook board mills	Millbrook board mills
Millbrook board mills	Millbrook board mills weir

Tyn-y-cae Woollen Mill - SO 2396 1662

The 1891 particulars for lot 15 describe Tyn-y-cae Woollen Mill as a water-powered three storey stone mill consisting of bioler house, drying room, carding room, spinning weaving and yarn rooms on the second floor. The third floor held the pressing, store and wool rooms. There was also a dwelling and outbuildings, all occupied by R G James at a rent of £19 p.a. on a 30 year lease since 1878.

Tyn-y-cae Woollen Mill,1899

Tyn-y-cae Woollen Mill

Crickhowell to Talybont-on-Usk

Talybont-on-Usk - SO 1145 2255

Talybont is the meeting point of three transport systems, the oldest is the Brecon and Abergavenny Canal which was soon met by the Brinore Tramroad and finally by the Brecon and Merthyr Railway. The Brinore Tramroad took a higher line from Talybont to Pen Rhiw-calch and the whole route to Trefil is covered on the Trefil and Brynoer page.

Knight's Mill, West of Crickhowell

Gileston Corn Mill, Talybont

Pipeline valve near Talybont

The Brecon and Abergavenny Canal at Talybont

Between Crickhowell and talybont the canal passes through the Ashford Tunnel, the longest on the Monmouthshire network.

Ashford Tunnel, Talybont	Ashford Tunnel, Talybont	Ashford Tunnel, Talybont	Ashford Tunnel, Talybont
B & A Canal, bridge '141', Talybont	B & A Canal, bridge '143', Talybont	GWR weight limit notice, Talybont	Lift bridge, Talybont
35 mile post, Talybont	Pipeline bridge, Talybont	Pipeline bridge, Talybont

The Brecon and Merthyr Railway at Talybont

The Brecon and Merthyr Railway climbed the seven-mile bank from Talybont to reach Torpantau, taking a lower line below the Brinore Tramroad, along the side of Talybont Reservoir.

B & MR canal bridge, Talybont	B & MR canal bridge, Talybont	B & MR canal bridge, Talybont	B & MR road bridge, Talybont
B & MR road bridge, Talybont	B & MR pipeline bridge, Talybont	B & MR trackbed, Talybont	BMR underbridge
BMR underbridge	BMR culvert	The BMR climbs to Torpantau	The BMR below Torpantau Tunnel

Sudbrook and the Severn Estuary

Sudbrook Shipyard and Slipways - ST 5090 8775

The shipyard in Sudbrook was in operation from 1888 to 1922, after the Severn Tunnel was completed, there being many skilled workmen already on site. After 1922 small engineering and repair shops used the few remaining building but they will soon be demolished for new housing. The remains of the slipways should survive on the foreshore.

Sudbrook Shipyard	Sudbrook Shipyard	Sudbrook Shipyard	Sudbrook Shipyard
Sudbrook Shipyard	Sudbrook Shipyard	Sudbrook Shipyard	Sudbrook Shipyard
Sudbrook Shipyard	Sudbrook Shipyard
Sudbrook shipyard slipways	Sudbrook shipyard slipways	Sudbrook shipyard slipways	Sudbrook shipyard slipways
Sudbrook shipyard slipways	Sudbrook shipyard slipways	Sudbrook shipyard slipways	Sudbrook shipyard slipways
Sudbrook shipyard slipways	Sudbrook shipyard slipways	Sudbrook shipyard slipways

Around Sudbrook

The Sudbrook and Black Rock branch lines, the paper mill and the Severn Tunnel pumping station. Black Rock was the site of the pier and station of the ' Bristol & South Wales Union Railway', the original 'Severn Crossing'. it opened in 1864 from Portskewett Junction to Bristol via Patchway and Stapleton Road. There were long piers on both sides of the Severn onto which the trains ran, passengers transferring to ferry boats for the intervening 1.5 miles. The line and ferry ceased running at the end of 1886 with the opening of the Severn Tunnel. The trackbed from Portskewett to Black Rock can be traced to the pier.

Sudbrook branch line	Sudbrook branch line	Sudbrook branch line
Sudbrook level crossing	Sudbrook level crossing
Pumping station engine house	Pumping station fanhouse	Pumping station fanhouse	Pumping station and fanhouse
Sudbrook paper mill	Sudbrook paper mill	Sudbrook paper mill
Anti-aircraft gunsite	Pill-box on top of the Iron-age fort	Pill-box on top of the Iron-age fort	Pill-box on top of the Iron-age fort
Sudbrook from Black Rock	HST passing Black Rock	New Passage ferry pier

Wentwood and Penhow

A narrow-gauge 'Jubilee' wagon body lies upside-down beside the path between Wentwood Gate and Yewtree Cottage at ST 4006 9261. I guess it may have come from Penhow Quarry or Wentwood Reservoir but was there another railway in this area? Higher up lies this Lister pump, once servicing a tank fed by a spring.

Wentwood, Jubilee skip body	Wentwood, Jubilee skip body	Wentwood, A Lister pump
Penhow Limekiln	Penhow Limekiln	Penhow Quarry	Whitebrook Mill dam

Caldicot - ST 490876

Caldicot is the junction of the short branch to Caerwent Ordnance depot and the site of Caldicot Iron and Wire Works of 1861. By 1880 it was a tinplate works making and printing on tinplate signs and boxes. The modern factory on the site carries out very similar work.

Caldicot, Caerwent branch	Caldicot, Caerwent branch	The site of Caldicot Tinplate Works
Anti-aircraft gun emplacement, Caldicot	Anti-aircraft gun emplacement, Caldicot

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Thanks to Mike Kilner for finding the brickworks in Usk and Raglan and, in his role as warden of Cefn Ila, accompanying me on my explorations in its undergrowth.
'The Bristol & South Wales Union Railway' by John Norris, Stuart Baldwin of 'SJB Photography', RCHS and the history of the Black Rock to New Passage Ferry.