.7

 

The DEVIL’s BRIDGE,
PONT av FYNACH, or MYNACH BRIDGE,

ITUATED twelve Miles from ABER'YSTWITH, in Caiznicausrrraa, on the

i   Road leading from thence to LLANIDLOES, in MONTGOMERYSHIRE, confifts of V

two Arches.—=—-The Old Bridge (which is the lower Arch) is faid to have been built
fo far back as the Year 1987, in the Reign of VVILLIAM II. by the Monks of STRATA
FLORIDA ABBEY, the Ruins of which a"i‘e yet vifible about ten Miles off. GERALD
mentions pafling over it when he accompanied BALDWIN, Archbiihop of CANTER-
BURY,‘ at the Time of the Crufades in the Year 1188, and Reign of RICHARD the

Firft. The other Arch was built perpendicularly over it in the Year 1753, at the .
Expence of the County, for the greater Safety and Convenience of Travellers.

*’ THEY Span a Chafm in a tremendous Rock, which when viewed from the
Dingle where the Stream runs, has an Appearance awfully Sublime; and the Rays
of the ‘Sun being intercepted by the elevated Situation of the Trees, which grow

impending over this impetuous Torrent, adds greatly to the Sublimity of it. The

Cleft in the Rock has been greatly enlarged, if not originally caufed, by the Force
of the Water, the Rapidity of which is increafed by its Confinement. The Depth
of the Water on the S. W. Side, from whence the View of the Bridge is taken,
is in fome Places upwards of twelve Feet, and the higheit Arch to the Water, is
ninety-nine Feet. 011 the N. E. Side, clofe to the Bridge, it Meafures one hun-
dred and fourteen Feet; this Difference may be afcribed to the Declivity under it,
which is very confiderable.  

THE River buriting from its reftrained Courfe, through broken Rocks, and
interrupted by Fragments, becomes a more even and tranflucid Stream for about
forty Yards N. E. from the Bridge, till within a few Yards of the Fall, where it is
confined to narrow Limits by the Rocks; from whence, burlting with terrific Roar,
it is carried about fix Feet over the craggy Ridge; and defcending eighteen Feet, is
received into a Bafon, along which it flows Twenty-four; from whence it rufhes
with equal Impetuofity to a Defcent of fixty Feet:—~——I-Iere the Fall is again inter»
rupted by another Receiver, which, like the former, appears to have been worn
to an amazing Depth. The Agitation of the .VVater{ and the Mill: occafioned by
the Fall, which for fome Time we took for~Rain;  1 ’ it an ac ,
Along this Bafon it battens to another Defcent of ner twenty Feet; and reaching
that Extent, meets with Obftruétions of maify Rocks and Stones of prodigious Size;
thefe it encounters with irrefiftible Violence, and forces its Way about twenty-two
Feet, to the Precipice of the greateft Cataraét. The VVater then uniting, paifes
with an almoit inconceivable Force over the Brink of the Rock, and becomes a
large Sheet; in that State it falls upwards of one hundred and ten Feet, except
being divided near the Middle of it by craggy Pieces of Rock.

. THE River for near three Miles from this Spot, is encircled with Hills of
prodigious Magnitude, fome wholly clothed with Trees, except an Intervention
here and there of frightfully projeéting Rocks, the Bottoms of which are very
dangerous and difficult of Accefs; but a Situation near the Brink of the River
once obtained, the Speétator is amply repaid with a Scene the molt folemn and
beautiful. To defcribe the various Sounds the different Breaks in the Cataraél:
produce, can beft be done by a Simile to a Variation of the Keys in Mufic; and
to depiél: the Scenery with which you are here furrounded, elevated Woods, Rocks,
and the rulhing of the River falling more than two hundred and eighty Feet, can
B3113-0I€ jultly done by the ingenious Engraver, from an accurate Drawing taken on

.3

the Spot, than by the molt defcriptive Een.

A Gentleman of that Neighbourhood, aftrer vifiting this Place, thus defcribes
it in the following lines, delivered extempore:
Imitafed in Engli/5.
O’er Mynach’s gloomy Stream is thrown
A Bridge, from whence a profpe6t’s ihown,
Which beggars all Defcription;
There nature wildly-rude is feen,
There Rocks tremendous form a Scene
’ Beyond the Power of Fiétion.

A Set of Robbers (two Brothers ahd a Sifter) called PLANT Y FAT, it is {aid
concealed themfelves in a Cave near the Bafon of the firft Fall of the Cataraét, and,
although they committed various Depredations, their Retreat was not difcovered

for many Years.

  Pont fach ar Fynach a fynwyd,
Uwch eigion, och! agos Gyfarllwyd;
Garwach heb gel ni welwyd
Oll erioed, na’r man 1le’r wyd

 

 “:9 . x?" t-''.‘. F
.5.-I .1; 37  gr‘ ,6
5 « « -

 

RARE

DA
740

.C3
D48
1700

‘\
//  
1;’ L ’

muvemm or Inuouu - counnu
ELL SPC RRE RARE

DA740. 3 D48 170

lllllllllllllilllllllllilllll

01 0-0061 07429