Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB02/11/039

Address :
Castle Bridge Dowland Road Fruithill Limavady Co Londonderry BT49 OH

Townland:
Fruithill

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Survey 2:
Record Only

Date of Listing:

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Bridge

Former Use
Bridge

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
29/2SW

IG Ref:
C6821 2398

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

Segmental two arch bridge, with cut stone voussoirs and cutwater upstream. Length of parapet wall 34 metres on the down stream (north west) side. Similar length of parapet discernible on opposite side but this is now incorporated in the boundary wall of the Drenagh Estate (see HB02/11/002K). Parapet 800mm high, Drenagh wall 800mm higher. Span of arches 4½ metres approximately, narrowing slightly from upstream to downstream. Plinth course as Artikellly Bridge (HB02/11/017) and also narrows between upstream and downstream ends. Downstream parapet finished in humped back stone, upstream vertical flat stones built over by rough ashlar wall.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Circa 1790 or earlier as construction date not given in Memoirs. Described as on ‘old Coleraine Road’ which, similar to Artikelly Bridge could support an earlier construction date. Indicated on 1831 Ordnance Survey Map and described in Ordnance Survey Memoirs as: ‘a bridge called the Castle Bridge, owing to its having been built near the ruins of the castle that formerly stood in Killane townland. This bridge has two arches each 15 feet in span, with a roadway 22 feet wide’. The castle alluded to was an O’Cahan stronghold (more information can be found under Historic Monuments Reference: LDY9:21) of which there is now no trace. The demesne wall was built over the bridge during the famine (1847). Little has been altered since. References: Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol. 9 p. 56 Industrial Archaeology Record Ref: 1460

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A neat and simple bridge on Dowland Road which might be over 200 years old. Of greater interest than contemporary structures because of the influence of Drenagh Demesne, cut stone to the exterior, rough stone inside the wall. Appearances must be kept up! The estate wall incorporated into the bridge adds to the unusual and historic nature of the structure. The bridge also deserves attention as an important part of the group of structures associated with the estate wall, see HB02/11/002K

General Comments

Date of Survey

12 November 1997