Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/01/054

Address :
Aqueduct Dunnywater Annalong Newry Co Down

Townland:
Moneydorragh More Upper/ Mullartown

---

Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
11/04/2008 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Water Works Structures

Former Use
Water Works Structures

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

---

OS Map No:
269/14 SW

IG Ref:
J3538 2240

---

Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

A circular metal water pipe from the Silent Valley is carried across the Annalong River on five semicircular reinforced-concrete arches. The voussoirs, spandrels and piers are faced with vee-jointed concrete blocks, and the piers have rounded cutwaters with stringing over. The oversailing deck has a two-bar metal handrail along both sides. At either end of the pipe is a small concrete chamber from which the inside of the pipe could be accessed.

Architects

Binnie Deacon & Gourley

Historical Information

Because of the increased flow in the Mourne conduit between the Silent Valley and Dunnywater that would be brought about by the building of the Bignian Tunnel (which diverts water from the Annalong River into the Silent Valley), it was necessary to increase the capacity of this section of conduit. This was achieved by laying a new pipe made up of lengths of cement-lined 1.4m (54in) diameter thin steel shell (manufactured by Harland & Wolff, Belfast). This scheme, of which the aqueduct is a part, was carried out by Messrs McLaughlin & Harvey (Belfast) under the supervision of the Belfast & District Water Commissioners’ consultant engineers Messrs Binnie, Deacon and Gourley (Westminster). The tunnel and new section of conduit were opened in 1952. Primary Sources: 1. DOE Water Service, Westland House, Old Westland Rd, Belfast - drawing 4D book 1, no.7. Secondary sources: 1. Belfast & District Water Commissioners, ‘The Mourne Scheme: development of the Silent Valley and Annalong Valley catchments’ (Belfast 1959), pp.28-9

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

G. Innovatory Qualities J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

V. Authorship

Evaluation

Architecturally, this aqueduct is of interest in that embellished concrete blocks have been used to cover the mass concrete core. Technically, the method of pipe construction (cement-reinforced steel) was apparently novel for its time. The aqueduct is also of historical interest in relation to Belfast’s water supply and has group value in being functionally related to the Bignian Tunnel (HB16/01/041). It is also a significant landscape feature.

General Comments

Date of Survey

07 June 1997