Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB24/16/044

Address :
Blackwater Bridge, Ballykeigle Road, Ballykeel, Comber, Co. Down BT23 5SD

Townland:
Ballykeel

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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:
167/6

IG Ref:
J4572 6428

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

Road bridge, carrying the Ballykeigle Road over the River Blackwater, c.2 miles W of Ballygowan. The bridge is slightly hump-backed and follows a slight twist in the road. It is rubble-built with a single elliptical arch. The E side has a pipe attached above the arch with barbed wire and spikes attached to the pipe to deter ‘climbers’. Ties have been inserted into the bridge. The parapets have rough rubble coping. The parapet to the W appears to have been partly rebuilt in recent times. This parapet has a large crack running along it.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

A bridge is shown on this site on the 1834 and 1858 OS maps and marked ‘Blackwater Bridge’ on the latter. The present bridge may date from the early to mid 19th century. Primary sources 1 PRONI OS map 1st ed. 1834, Down 16. 2 PRONI OS map 1st rev. 1858-60, Down 16. 3 EHS HB24/16/33 1st survey notes and slide. 4 EHS OS map 167-6 (1:2500) 1973. Secondary sources 1 W.A. McCutcheon ‘The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland’ (HMSO 1980), pp.15-16.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Rubble-built road bridge possibly dating from the early to mid 19th century. Ties have been inserted recently.

General Comments

Date of Survey

20 January 1999