Survey Data
Reg No
13400907
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Original Use
Bridge
In Use As
Bridge
Date
1840 - 1880
Coordinates
220209, 279804
Date Recorded
05/08/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Single-arch road bridge over tributary of the Camlin River, built c. 1860. Constructed of coursed rock-faced limestone with rounded dressed limestone coping over parapet walls. Segmental-headed arch with rock-faced limestone voussoirs. Rock-faced string course at road level. Terminating piers to either side of arch having rock-faced coping over with stepped dressed edges. Located to the west/southwest of Ballinalee.
Appraisal
A robustly-built small-scale bridge, of mid nineteenth-century appearance, which is a pleasing feature in the rural landscape of County Longford. The rustication to the piers and string course is finished with a straight edge to the corners, enhancing and emphasising the formal properties of the structure. The good quality heavily rock-faced masonry is a typical feature of the many bridges built throughout Ireland by the Board of Works/Office of Public Works during the mid-to-late nineteenth century, and particularly between c. 1847 - 60, suggesting that they may have been responsible for its construction. This bridge is similar in form to a number of other bridges in north Longford, including a bridge at Drumhalry (13400307) and Drumury Bridge (13400101), which suggests that it was built as part of a general drainage and/or bridge building programme. The present structure replaced an earlier bridge at this site (Ordnance Survey first edition six-inch map 1838).