Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB22/13/001 F

Address :
Bridge to rear of Castle Dobbs Dobbsland Carrickfergus Co Antrim BT38 9BU

Townland:
Dobbsland

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
12/02/2010 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Bridge

Former Use
Bridge

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
99-6SE

IG Ref:
J4438 9090

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A three-span road bridge, built c. 1790, carrying private road in Castle Dobbs estate over Kilroot River. Granite abutments, coursed basalt rubble spandrels and parapets, sandstone pillars and rounded saddle-back coping to parapet. Three round-headed arches with rubble stone voussoirs. Arch soffits are of random rubble. The carriageway is approximately 4m wide with recent tarmac surface. Weir directly to north; curved falls; cast-iron mechanism fixed to north elevation. The bridge is set in a private estate, on main route from north entrance with Castle Dobbs (HB22/13/001A) to the south-east. Mature gardens in surrounding context. Roof N/A Walling Coursed basalt rubble Windows N/A RWG N/A

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

The demesne of Castle Dobbs was established in the sixteenth century, with the present house (HB22/13/001A) dating to c.1730. The bridge is thought to have been built c.1790 as part of the development of the demesne into a landscape park. The Townland Valuation of 1836 records a dwelling house and offices, owned and occupied by Richard Dobbs Esq. The building is valued at £ 46 14s, later revised to £53. Griffith’s Valuation of 1859 lists a house, office, gate lodge and land, initially valued at £45, later revised to £12 5s. An accompanying note states “the old farm lot & offices have been pulled down & the new ones built…the amount in the old book to be altered”. Valuation Revisions from the 1870s record the occupier as Conway Dobbs, held ‘in fee’. The valuation is £120, revised in 1878 to £128. In 1886 the occupier changes to Montague Dobbs. In 1904 the gate lodge entry is crossed out and changed to [S] house. It is at this time that a ‘gardeners house’ is entered in the description. A note reads ‘gate lodge deducted in 1904’; the lodge can be found entered separately below, occupied by William Snoddy, and valued at £3. A smaller house is also annexed from the main estate valuation at this time, occupied by Jacob Johnston, leased from M.W. Dobbs, valued at £2 10s. It is not clear which building this refers to, although it may be the smaller lodge. In 1914 the entry for ‘Castle Dobbs’ lists a house, office, steward’s house, gardener’s house and land. The building valuation is £125, and the gate lodge is recorded as occupied by Johanna Holt, and then by John Bowes in 1915. References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/1/53/1 - First Edition OS Map (1831-2) 2. PRONI OS/6/1/53/2 - Second Edition OS Map (1857) 3. PRONI OS/6/1/53/3 - Third Edition OS Map (1901-2) 4. PRONI VAL/1/A/ 1/53 - Townland Valuation Map (1836) 5. PRONI VAL/1/B/119 - Townland Valuation Fieldbook (1836) 6. PRONI VAL/2B/1/16 - Griffiths Valuation Fieldbook (1859) 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/7/18 A-F - Valuation Revisions (1864-1929) Secondary Sources 1. Brett, C[harles] E. B. “Buildings of County Antrim.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1996. 2. Young, Robert Magill. “Belfast and the Province of Ulster in the Twentieth Century.” Pike's New Century Series, ed. W. T. Pike. Brighton : W. T. Pike, 1909.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form F. Structural System J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

V. Authorship X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-span road bridge, built c. 1790, carrying a private road in Castle Dobbs estate over the Kilroot River. This attractive bridge remains intact and well-preserved. It is well proportioned, and the design is enlivened by decorative stone detailing. The bridge is set within a picturesque rural estate, enhanced by the weir falls and pond to north.

General Comments

This record has been renumbered as part of a group - previously included in HB22/13/001.

Date of Survey

17 December 2008