Survey Data
Reg No
40909326
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Original Use
Bridge
In Use As
Bridge
Date
1780 - 1830
Coordinates
184534, 381566
Date Recorded
10/10/2007
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Triple-arched bridge carrying main road over the Eanymore Water, built c. 1780, having ashlar V-profile cutwaters to piers. Segmental-headed arches having dressed ashlar voussoirs; squared rubble stone construction to arch barrels. Roughly coursed rubble stone construction to spandrels, piers and abutments. Roughly coursed rubble stone parapets having rubble stone solider coping; modern repairs in places. Rubble stone wing walls to either end (south and west) that step outwards from bridge forming splayed plan. Tarmacadam deck. Located in the rural landscape to the north of Frosses.
Appraisal
This impressive triple-arched road bridge retains its early character and form, and is an appealing feature in the rural landscape to the north of Frosses. It is robustly-constructed using squared local rubble stone masonry, and its continued survival and use along a main routeway stands as testament to the quality of its original construction, and of the skill of the masons involved. The good quality dressed stone voussoirs to the arches and the ashlar construction to the cutwaters are of a high standard, which helps to elevate this bridge above many of similar-scaled bridges in Donegal. This bridge probably originally dates to the late-eighteenth century or the first decades of the nineteenth century, a period that saw a great deal of road and bridge-building throughout Ireland, particularly by the Grand Juries (the forerunners of the County Councils). A bridge is located on this site on the Taylor and Skinner map of the area from 1777-83, suggesting that this bridge may originally date to this time. The wing walls that step outwards to either end of the parapets is a feature that can be seen at a number of bridges in County Donegal. This fine edifice is one of a number of impressive bridges over the Eanybeg Water and the Eanymore Water in this area, and is an integral element of the built heritage and transport history of the local area.