AN HISTORIC bridge that is thought to have been built in the 1700s has reopened to the public - almost two months after it had to close following damage caused by Storm Dennis.

Pont-y-mister bridge just off Fields Road in Pontymister – known as 'stony bridge' to locals – was damaged when surging waters from the River Ebbw pushed a tree branch through the centre of the bridge on Sunday, February 16.

South Wales Argus:

The surging waters led to a tree branch piercing the Grade II listed bridge

Caerphilly County Borough Council initially closed the bridge for 21 days to carry out repairs - but work took longer than initially planned. The delay in repair was caused by needing specialist scaffolding to be designed and installed, allowing safe access for the council’s term service contractor to carry out the repairs. Repairs were needed to be done outside of the anticipated area and on Wednesday, April 8, the bridge was reopened to the public with a temporary surface. The surface will be fully completed once the current pandemic allows.

According to a local legend, the Grade II-listed bridge was constructed by William Phillips sometime in the late 1700s. He had the bridge constructed to make it easier to court a woman who lived on the other side of the river – with whom who he went on to father 26 children by 1809, as stated in the Cambrian newspaper with the announcement of the 26th child’s birth on December 9, 1809.

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The bridge now links Pontymister with Lower Machen and is a popular trail for dog walkers. It is the sole vehicular access to Old Pontymister Farm.

South Wales Argus:

The bridge has now been repaired