Editing Usk (section)

===The 18th and 19th centuries===
[[File:Usk Bridge, Usk - geograph.org.uk - 1268258.jpg|thumb|The bridge over the [[River Usk]], built in 1746–1752, to a design by [[William Edwards (architect)|William Edwards]]]]
The first stone bridge at Usk, replacing one of wood, was built to the designs of Welsh architect [[William Edwards (architect)|William Edwards]]. Unlike the bridge downstream at Caerleon, it withstood the great floods of 1795.  The bridge was strengthened and widened in 1836, but two of its arches were destroyed by floods in 1877 and later replaced.<ref name=towntrail/>

In 1769 a [[Congregational chapel]] was built in Twyn Square. It was rebuilt, in the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic style]] in 1863, with a turret for one bell and room for 400 worshippers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jlb2011.co.uk/walespic/churches/usk3.htm|title=John's Homepage|website=www.jlb2011.co.uk}}</ref> The Town Clock was originally positioned directly in front of the church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/384809|title=The Former Congregational Chapel Twyn Sq Usk.|website=Peoples Collection Wales}}</ref>

From the late 18th century, Usk became well known for the high quality of its [[japanning|japanware]],<ref name=towntrail/> a process of decorating metals by applying a lacquer to tinplate. The process, known as [[Pontypool japan]], was first developed in the west by Thomas Allgood of nearby [[Pontypool]] and was taken on in Usk in 1763 by his grandsons Thomas and Edward Allgood. Products from Usk included tin trays, [[jardinière]]s, and coal boxes. However output declined with changing fashions in the 19th century, and the last Usk japanware was produced in 1860 on the site of what is now Bunning's builders' merchants.<ref name=towntrail/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.japanware.org/index.asp?pID=8 |title=Japanware.org – Pontypool and Usk rivalry |access-date=17 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904231838/http://www.japanware.org/index.asp?pID=8 |archive-date=4 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Usk was a thriving [[market town]] in the first part of the 19th century, when many of its existing buildings were constructed, and into the [[Victorian era]], although its population fell in the second half of the century as a result of agricultural depression.<ref name=newman/>