Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB02/06/009

Address :
Owenbeg Bridge Foreglen Road Dungiven Co Londonderry

Townland:
Owenbeg

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
04/08/2003 00:00:00

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:
51/5

IG Ref:
C6885 0915

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

A 3 arch stone bridge, slightly humped over the Owenbeg River. The bridge has 3 semi-circular arches with the centre one higher than the others because of the wider span ( 7.5 metres approx.) and slightly higher springing line. The other spans are about 6 metres. Arches constructed with roughly squared voissoirs of sandstone with skirting walls in rubble stonework. Between the arches there are triangular breakwaters with ½ pyramidal tops. The parapet walls are 30 metres long and 1metre high with large copings, slightly overhanging on the carriageway side. The carriageway width is 7 metres between parapets and the parapet on the upstream side curves slightly. At the springing line of the arches there is a course of sandstone of larger size. The river bed under and below the bridge is concreted and there is a weir some 10 metres downstream with a central fish by-pass. The bridge is situated at right angles to the riverbed and in a picturesque stretch of river. The main road has been realigned so that the bridge is now a quiet backwater with a sunken picnic area adjoining . Steps lead down to it from the end of the parapet at the W end.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

A bridge constructed c 1795 and referred to in the O S Memoirs. Its construction is similar to the Buttermilk bridge spanning the Owenbeg further downstream. The semi-circular arch usage is typical of late 18th c and early 19th c construction.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion J. Setting

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A good example of a semi circular arch bridge of the late 18th century and early 19th century. Well built of local sandstone with slight humpback and of national and local interest in a picturesque setting. The setting could be considered as a distance of 30 metres upstream and downstream including the riverbanks and trees.

General Comments

Date of Survey

15 June 2000