Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
The Foundry Bridge Construction 1951.
This was the second bridge to be constructed across the valley at Abertillery, connecting the western and eastern sides of the town.
Tenders for the Construction of the New Bridge.
On Wednesday 22nd of February 1950, the Western Mail newspaper issued notices that tenders were invited by the Abertillery District Council for contractors with experience in erecting pre-stressed concrete bridges. The work consisted of the reconstruction of the Foundry Bridge, demolition of the old existing steel girder bridge and the erection of the new bridge consisting of pre-stressed concrete girders employing the Freyssinet System of Cables and Anchorages with reinforced concrete decking slab at higher level. New mass concrete abutments on the east side and part existing new reinforced concrete abutments on the western side. The approach road at the east side included mass concrete retaining wall and the approach road on the west side consists of Suspended Reinforced Concrete Decking.
The Contractor and Engineer.
The contractors were McAlpine. The consulting engineer was Mr Wallace Evans.
The Official Opening of the New Foundry Bridge 1951.
On Wednesday 18th of July 1951, the New Foundry Bridge was officially opened by Mr Alfred Barnes M.P. the Minister of Transport with Mrs Florence Brown J.P., Chairman of the Abertillery District Council.
Description of the New Bridge 1951.
The new bridge was said to have been the largest ever built in Great Britain by the pre-stressed sectional concrete method. This method meant they could reduce the steel requirements to a fraction of what would be needed in a conventional bridge construction.
The First Car Over the Bridge.
The first car over the bridge was a police car, followed by a car occupied by Mr H. J. Williams (Clerk of the Abertillery Council) and Councillor Mr W. Hillman (Vice-Chairman). The next car was Mr and Mrs Barnes, Mrs Florence Brown (Councillor) and Sir Malcolm McAlpine K.B.E. A civic function was later held at the Bush Hotel, Abertillery.
The Story of the New Foundry Bridge.
On Thursday 19th of July 1951, the Western Mail newspaper printed the story of the opening of the new bridge and gave a brief account of how Mr Evans, the designer said that conferences were held to discuss the bridge before the war, though in 1939 it was halted. After the war there was a steel shortage and it was then decided to change the design. The bridge was the longest of its type in the country and it had been completed in 305 working days. Referring to the construction of the bridge, it was originally intended to use 115 tons of steel but because of the shortage it was decided to use the method of pre-stressed concrete where only 15 tons of steel was used (this figure was slightly different in the South Wales Gazette story of the bridge although fairly similar).
Traffic Islands and Pedestrian Crossing.
On Friday 5th of October 1951, it was proposed to lay down traffic islands, one top and one at the bottom of the new Foundry Bridge with a pedestrian crossing. No other information was recorded on the proposals at this time.
Public Conveniences.
On Friday 28th of December 1951, the South Wales Gazette printed council notices of inviting tenders from builders for the construction of ladies and gents conveniences on the south side of the eastern approach road to the foundry bridge. Plans could be viewed at the office of Mr A. Gordon Jones, Engineer and Surveyor, Council Offices, King Street, Abertillery.
The Completion of the Public Conveniences.
In December 1954 the public conveniences had been constructed and the post of a cleaner was advertised to clean the toilets at the Foundry Bridge and at Alexandra Road. Wages were advertised as being £7. 11s. 9d. per week, a few hours per day, Monday to Friday and weekends. The wages were equivalent to approximately £236.00. in today’s money.
Points of Interest –
Mrs Florence Brown (1900-1965).
Mrs Florence Brown nee Mead, born in 1900 at No.9 Gray Street, Abertillery, known as Florrie, the daughter of William and Mary Jane Mead. In 1920 Florence married Mr Robert Brown and they had and a daughter Miss Ruby Brown, born 1920 and a son Mr Robert Charles (Roy) Brown born in 1925.
Councillor.
Mrs Florence Brown first became a councillor in 1943 when a by-election was caused by the death of Councillor W. Beynon. She failed to secure re-election in 1946 but upon the retirement of Councillor Tom Gale in 1948 she was successful in the resultant by-election. She was successful in retaining her seat in the tri-annual elections held in 1949 and upon each occasion she had represented the Central Ward of Abertillery in the Council Chamber. When she first sat in the Abertillery Council Chamber, it was said she was the first woman councillor to do so. In 1950, Mrs Brown was the first woman to be elected vice-chairman.
First Woman Chairman.
On Monday 21st of May 1951 Mrs Florence Brown was elected Chairman of Abertillery Council and became the first woman councillor ever to hold the office. In 1956 Mrs Brown was awarded an M.B.E.: Her husband Mr Robert Brown was an official at Six Bells Colliery where there son Mr Roy Brown was also employed. Sadly Roy Brown was killed in the Six Bells Colliery disaster 1960.
Mr Wallace Evans.
Mr Wallace Evans, the consulting engineer was the designer of the first and largest pre-stressed concrete bridge of its type in Great Britain, the Foundry Bridge at Abertillery. The firm Wallace Evans was established at Penarth in 1932. They became one of the largest companies of its kind in the country and had expanded abroad with a series of offices in the Caribbean. Mr Evans lived with his wife Elsie in Victoria Road, Penarth and had two sons, David and Clifford Evans.
Source – South Wales Gazette and the Western Mail.
The photograph in the main image above shows the Foundry Bridge being constructed. The image is taken from a glass slide – 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ inches square.
Copyright unknown.