'FROM CLARENCE BRIDGE NEWPORT' by Gillian Clarke

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'From Clarence Bridge Newport' by Gillian Clarke

Copyright: Newport Past, 0273 The New Bridge, Newport
opened 1927.


In 1911 the Town Council sought designs for a new replacement bridge. In December 1923 a decision was made to proceed immediately with the construction of the new bridge, partly as a scheme to find work for the unemployed. To best achieve this a temporary wooden bridge was erected alongside it[ and all power and gas lines were re-routed onto it. Even the town's tram lines and their accompanying overhead power system were moved over. The old bridge was then demolished and the new one erected.

On 22 June 1927 the new bridge was complete and opened to traffic by the Transport Minister Wilfrid Ashley.

A POEM BY WELSH POET GILLIAN CLARKE FROM THE NEWPORT SURVEY 1983 p. 35. Now known as Newport Bridge this was also known as Clarence Place Bridge as Clarence Place is on the east of Newport.

FROM CLARENCE BRIDGE NEWPORT
Esk. Isca. Usk. Every day
mud sculpted to new form,
river-grain breaking according
to the tide, tentatively,
violently at the stone feet
of the bridge. This afternoon
gulls cry under the arches, white
as wreaths of effluent,
plastic, feathers which turning tides
lay at the monument. No one
waits here. Wind bandages my mouth.
From melting snows of Ebbw,
Honddu, Usk, Sirhowy
processions of icy air
file to the sea, threading under
and over the bridges crying
a hymn of wind and water

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