Editing Pontypridd (section)

===Old Bridge===
Pontypridd is noted for its [[Old Bridge, Pontypridd|Old Bridge]], a stone construction across the [[River Taff]] built in 1756 by [[William Edwards (architect)|William Edwards]]. This was Edwards's fourth attempt, and at the time of construction, was the longest single-span stone [[arch bridge]] in the world. Rising {{convert|35|ft}} above the level of the river, the bridge forms a perfect segment of a circle, the [[chord (geometry)|chord]] of which is {{convert|140|ft}}. Notable features are the three holes of differing diameters through each end of the bridge, the purpose of which is to reduce weight. On completion, questions were soon raised as to the utility of the bridge, with the steepness of the design making it difficult to get horses and carts across. As a result, a new bridge, the Victoria Bridge, paid for by public subscription, was built adjacent to the old one in 1857. Pontypridd was known as Newbridge from shortly after the construction of the Old Bridge until the 1860s.
[[File:Drinking fountain, Taff St, Pontypridd.jpg|thumb|The drinking fountain in Taff St, Pontypridd, donated in 1895 by Sir Alfred Thomas, MP for East Glamorgan]]
[[File:Pontypridd New Bridge (b).jpg|thumb|[[Old Bridge, Pontypridd|Old Bridge]], dating from 1756]]