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A view of the castle can be enjoyed from
John
Rennie's 1816 cast-iron bridge, which
joins Chepstow to Gloucestershire. Further downstream,
Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 1852 tubular Railway Bridge was replaced
in 1962 and, more recently, a new road bridge was added alongside.
Whilst on the bridge it is possible to
appreciate why the wooden bridges which spanned the river here
since Norman times did not last long in the
fierce tides.
On 17 October 1883, the high tide was recorded by placing a
tide mark plaque on the bridge which can
still be seen today located near the Bridge
Inn. The Chepstow Flood Alleviation Scheme was opened 9 October 2001
according to this rather worn plaque on the
riverside. The railway came to Chepstow in 1850/51 and it
still has a railway station, being a stop on the line between
Birmingham, Gloucester, Cardiff and Swansea. It is a matter for regret
that the line north to Monmouth, through the scenic Wye Valley, has been
closed since the 1960s. Not only have the tracks been removed, but parts
of the route have been used to widen the road and bridges removed for
safety. So there is little prospect of a revival, despite
optimistic proposals. What a tourist attraction it would
have been now. |
Chepstow Port Wall plaque
