Survey Data
Reg No
40909925
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Original Use
Bridge
In Use As
Bridge
Date
1800 - 1840
Coordinates
191998, 371642
Date Recorded
13/11/2007
Date Updated
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Description
Single-arch bridge carrying road over the Ballintra River, built c. 1820. Segmental-headed arch having roughly dressed voussoirs to arch; rubble stone construction to arch barrel. Uncoursed rubble stone construction to spandrels; rubble stone construction to parapets having rubble stone coping over. Modern repairs in places. Side elevations (east and west) now overgrown with ivy. Tarmacadam deck with grass verges. Located in the rural countryside to the north-west of Ballintra, adjacent to the west of former flax mill, now ruinous.
Appraisal
This picturesque rustic bridge retains much of its early character, and is an appealing feature in the rural landscape to the north-west of Ballintra. It is robustly-constructed in local rubble stone masonry, and its continued survival and use stands as testament to the quality of its original construction, and of the skill of the masons involved. This bridge is distinguished by the good-quality dressed voussoirs to the arch, and by the graceful wide single arch, which is a feature of some technical and engineering merit. This bridge probably originally dates to the early-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). This bridge is an integral element of the built heritage of the local area, and forms part of the extensive transport heritage of Donegal.