Museum spotlight on 'Web of Iron'
Anyone who has ever wondered how the first suspension bridges were built can find out at Carmarthenshire County Museum.
An exhibition - Web of Iron - Nature, Art and Engineering – is on show at the museum in Abergwili from now until the end of November.
It was inspired by pioneering engineers such as Thomas Telford and Captain Samuel Brown, and tells the story of the suspension bridge and the influence of both nature and art on its development.
This exhibition looks at the development of the suspension bridge - in particular the chainbridge and the establishment of that form in Great Britain.
Thomas Telford, more than any other engineer, is credited for the mainstreaming of its use in Britain and is the reason for presenting the exhibition in the 250th year of his birth.
Education executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge said: “Of all the structural shapes that have appeared in the landscape, the suspension bridge is immediately recognised as one of the most graceful yet economical of forms.
“Offering advantages in providing a crossing in a single span it provided a cheaper alternative to a conventional bridge, it could be erected in less time than a conventional bridge and presented much reduced risks as far as floodwater and river navigation were concerned.
“This fascinating exhibition tells of the history of these bridges and the story of the amazing skills by the engineers who invented them.”
The exhibition, which is free, has been supported by the Institute of Civil Engineers Wales Cymru, and is touring Wales.
An exhibition - Web of Iron - Nature, Art and Engineering – is on show at the museum in Abergwili from now until the end of November.
It was inspired by pioneering engineers such as Thomas Telford and Captain Samuel Brown, and tells the story of the suspension bridge and the influence of both nature and art on its development.
This exhibition looks at the development of the suspension bridge - in particular the chainbridge and the establishment of that form in Great Britain.
Thomas Telford, more than any other engineer, is credited for the mainstreaming of its use in Britain and is the reason for presenting the exhibition in the 250th year of his birth.
Education executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge said: “Of all the structural shapes that have appeared in the landscape, the suspension bridge is immediately recognised as one of the most graceful yet economical of forms.
“Offering advantages in providing a crossing in a single span it provided a cheaper alternative to a conventional bridge, it could be erected in less time than a conventional bridge and presented much reduced risks as far as floodwater and river navigation were concerned.
“This fascinating exhibition tells of the history of these bridges and the story of the amazing skills by the engineers who invented them.”
The exhibition, which is free, has been supported by the Institute of Civil Engineers Wales Cymru, and is touring Wales.
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