Stryd y Bont, Cwm / Bridge Street Lower Town

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Bridge Street

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Yn Stryd y Bont / In Bridge Street

Carden bost yn dangos Stryd y Bont, gan edrych tua’r Afon Gwaun. Cafodd bythynnod, a Chapel Bach y Cwm a safai ar y dde, eu dymchwel er mwyn lledaenu y cornel a gwella’r ffordd. Arferai offer pwyso fod ger yr adeilad bach sydd i weld pen draw i’r bont. Byddai ffermwyr a physgotwyr yn pwyso llwythi ar y dafol. Adeiladwyd y bont yma yn 1875 ac mae’r dyddiad yn glir i’w weld ar garreg arbennig, tua’r canol. Roedd y bont flaenorol yn gulach ac yn cynnwys sawl bwa. Mae nifer o’r tai yn Stryd y Bont wedi eu cofrestri fel adeiladau o bwys hanesyddol. Isod, mae llythyr a argraffwyd yn y Wasg ar yr 22ain o Hydref, 1896. Braidd yn ddideimlad o sefyllfa drist trigolion y Cwm yw awdur y llythyr.

A postcard view of Bridge Street looking towards the bridge over the river Gwaun.   The corner cottages on the right were demolished to improve visibility for road users. The little chapel which was also on the right hand side was demolished too. The some building seen beyond the bridge was adjacent to a weigh bridge which was used by farmers and fishermen. This bridge was constructed in 1875. This date can be seen on a stone located near the centre of the bridge. Previously, there had been a narrower bridge which had several arches. Several of the houses in this street are listed as being of architectural interest. Below is a letter which was printed in the ‘County Echo’ om 22nd October 1896. It is rather unsympathetic to the plight of Lower Town residents.

THE HIGH TIDES AT FISHGUARD  – To the Editor of the COUNTY ECHO. Seeing an account in last week’s “Echo” of the havoc the recent high tides played with some of the houses at Lower Town, I should be very pleased if your correspondent would let me know in which of the houses in close proximity to the Bridge were the fish in sole possession of the ground floor. He says the inhabitants had to retire to their bedrooms from whence could be seen a number of fish, especially whiting. I presume it must have been through the cracks in the ceilings (for such is the state of some of these houses) that the fish could be seen. This would be a capital place for invalids of a sporting disposition. They could enjoy a day’s fishing without even disturbing the bed-clothes. Next high tide it would be well for these people to let their bedrooms on hire for fishing purposes, which would, perhaps, be the means of having some returns to meet the loss caused by the water rushing into the houses in question. Yours truly, NOT A RESIDENT.