Bigsweir

Bigsweir is a locality in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which straddles the boundary between Gloucestershire in England and Monmouthshire in Wales. It is located about 2 miles north of Llandogo, 2 miles south of Whitebrook, and 3 miles west of St Briavels.

There is no village at Bigsweir. However, it is known for its elegant cast iron road bridge, which was built in 1827 as part of the new turnpike road constructed up the lower part of the Wye valley between Chepstow and Monmouth. The bridge connects the English and Welsh sides of the river, with an abandoned toll house on the Welsh side. It comprises a single arch of 50 metres, and was designed by Charles Hollis of London and cast at Merthyr Tydfil. [Alan Crow, "Bridges on the River Wye", 1995, ISBN 0-9518589-9-8] Because of its narrow width, modern traffic using the A466 is controlled by traffic signals at either end. The bridge is about 600 metres upstream of the ancient fishing weir and ford of Bigsweir, which is close to Bigsweir House. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23262 British History Online - St Briavels] ]

Bigsweir is now defined as the upper limit of navigation on the Wye, and is at the limit of the jurisdiction of the Gloucester Harbour Trustees.

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