The Devil's Bridge (three bridges in one), near Aberystwyth, mid Wales

Erin the archaeologist visits Devil's Bridge in mid Wales, near Aberystwyth. Here there are three Bridges all built on top of one another, and it is the earliest one, on the bottom, that gives this location its name. Erin tells the story behind why it got its name, and gives a brief history of the site.

[@dougsrepair1060]

This is truly worthy content.
Thanks.

[@david_v2.1]

Never try to outwit an old woman, she most likely knows every trick in the book. Cool structure...glad that the older bridges are being preserved.

[@nicolabeynon8832]

Erin, can you please explain for me... The medieval bridge is much lower than the others which I'm used to seeing with traditional archaeology (meters of earth built up over the top over centuries) but... this is a rocky ravine. Obviously no way that much rock has built up since the middle ages. So was the original bridge stepped down to that height and then up again (ie: foot traffic more than wheeled traffic) or has the top of the ravine been built up in the subsequent road bridges to address the hilly terrain? Do you know?

[@drerinlloydjones]

It's a great question! I don't think it is clear in the video, but in person or from photos you can make out that the original bridge was built at the narrowest part of the top of the ravine, and so my guess would be that this is where the original route would have been, albeit having to go down into the ravine and climb back up before the first bridge was built. For the subsequent bridges you can see that they almost 'buttress' themselves into the hillside, building the ground up (and, incidentally, widening the road at the same time) so the new road/s didn't have to descend as far down - I suppose part of the clever planning of the turnpike road. Does this help a bit? There are some great historic photos out there which show the site with much less greenery so you get a good look at the construction

[@nicolabeynon8832]

Thank you so much. Yes, that does make sense. Everything I've seen is so lush and forested (*sigh*) but I hadn't thought to look for older images. And, coming from a sandplain city, ravines and their structures are a novelty to me. Thankyou for your videos which are very helpful for this virtual tourist :)

[@nitroglysarine]

I live just down the road from here.

[@err4071]

Ponterwyd

[@nitroglysarine]

@@err4071 a little further now.

[@err4071]

@@nitroglysarine
I used to live in Eisteddfa Gurig near the Elvis rock when I was in my early teens, I used to catch the bus to Penglais school
from Ponterwyd.

[@nitroglysarine]

@@err4071 I work at Penglais

[@err4071]

@@nitroglysarine
Thats cool I used to attend Penglais school from around 91 to 93, but I moved back to Staffordshire with my family at the
age of 14. I have very fond memories of Eisteddfa Gurig, Ponterwyd, Devil's Bridge, Penglais school and aberystwyth 👍

[@bujin1977]

And hopefully she was never allowed to keep dogs ever again! 😆

[@drerinlloydjones]

Right?!! 😅

[@kennydjvulgartrendkiller4314]

The banker said put your farm up an ill help you