Survey Data
Reg No
41401706
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Original Use
Bridge
Date
1855 - 1860
Coordinates
254667, 324674
Date Recorded
24/05/2012
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Single-arch railway bridge, built c.1858, carrying road over Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway. Elliptical arch, with rock-faced rusticated sandstone voussoirs and squared rubble stone to soffit. Margined edge to voussoirs and quoins to arch. Rock-faced rusticated platband at impost level running under arch. Tapered buttresses flanking arch to each elevation. Coursed squared rubble stone to spandrels, buttresses and parapets, rock-faced coping to parapets. Cutting partly infilled.
Appraisal
This modest bridge forms a component part of the Dundalk and Enniskillen Branch of the Great Northern Railway, which opened to Clones in 1858 and closed in 1959. It is articulated and enhanced by rock-faced rusticated detailing to the voussoirs, plat-bands and copings, providing an attractive focal point on the landscape, the rustication to the stone creating an impression of strength and endurance. It is of historical and social significance as a reminder of the development of civil engineering in general and the railway network specifically, bringing about technological advances and social change in Ireland.