Survey Data
Reg No
41401204
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Technical
Original Use
Bridge
Date
1855 - 1865
Coordinates
259297, 331228
Date Recorded
02/05/2012
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Single-arch railway bridge, built c.1860, carrying road over Portadown and Cavan Branch of Ulster Railway. Three-centred arch having rock-faced rusticated and margined grey sandstone voussoirs, and cut-stone soffits. Splayed wings terminating in projecting piers to abutments, roughly-dressed rubble to spandrel walls, parapet walls, abutments and wings. Rock-faced rusticated platbands at impost level and to base of parapet, and rock-faced rusticated coping to wings. Coursed dressed stone to interior of parapet walls.
Appraisal
Largely obscured from the road, this bridge is nonetheless an impressive piece of road and railway architecture, making an interesting contribution to the landscape. The fact that it remains in use testament to the skill and craftsmanship of railway engineers in the nineteenth century. The Portadown and Cavan Branch of the Ulster Railway, later the Great Northern Railway, provided a transport link in this area which was indicative of both the commercial productivity of the area and increased communication and interdependence throughout the country at the time. An integral component part of this network, this bridge is an important reminder of the industrial heritage of the area.