Survey Data

Reg No

13004046


Rating

Regional


Categories of Special Interest

Architectural, Artistic, Social, Technical


Original Use

Foot bridge


In Use As

Foot bridge


Date

1875 - 1895


Coordinates

213494, 274939


Date Recorded

31/08/2005


Date Updated

--/--/--


Description

Freestanding single-arch wrought-iron railway footbridge associated with Longford Town Railway Station (13004044), erected c. 1885. Segmental-arch bridge with iron decking and wrought-iron parapets having sheet metal plates and decorative cast-iron panels with floral motif. Accessed via a flight of iron steps with from both platforms (north and south). Paired cast-iron piers/newel posts with fluted caps to flights of steps. Set of four cast-iron columns to junction of steps and bridge, sitting on a concrete base to both platforms. Sited spanning both platforms at Longford Town Railway Station. Located to the west of the main station building (13004040) and to the south of Longford Town centre.

Appraisal

An elegant wrought-iron railway footbridge that forms an important part of the Longford Town Railway Station complex. Despite the functional purpose of the footbridge, it has some fine cast-iron decorative detailing that enhances its aesthetic appeal. It was probably erected by The Midland and Great Western Railway Company during the 1880s, a period when many iron railway footbridges were erected at railway stations in Ireland. It forms the part group of structures associated with Longford Town Railway Station, along with the main station building (13004044), the signal box (13008008), the iron crane (13008005) and the goods shed (13004150). It remains an important component of the transport heritage of Longford Town and of the social and economic history of County Longford. It is similar in form and decoration to the footbridge at Edgeworthstown Railway Station (13309003).