Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/13/023

Address :
Railway bridge over Low Road Newry Co. Armagh

Townland:
Aghayalloge

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
07/08/1992 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:
276/6

IG Ref:
J0633 2051

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Owner Category

Transport

Exterior Description And Setting

This bridge carries the embanked double track Belfast-Dublin railway over the Low Road (3.4m headroom). It comprises a single slightly-skewed segmental span of coarsely-dressed and irregularly laid granodiorite blocks throughout. It is embellished with tooled edges to the abutments, rusticated voussoirs, a finely dressed and chamfered string course through the arch at spring level and a similarly detailed cornice just above the crown (there were no parapets originally). Although the arch is skewed, the soffit blocks are laid orthogonally (i.e. conventionally). Splayed wing walls to each side are coped with finely-dressed and chamfered blocks and end in square piers with pyramidal caps. A concrete blockwork parapet has been added in the recent past; the middle section of the top string course and part of the spandrels have been damaged as a consequence and repaired with concrete.

Architects

Macneill, Sir John

Historical Information

Erected about 1850 by the Dublin & Belfast Junction Railway Co to designs by its chief engineer Sir John Macneill; its construction was undertaken by William Dargan. This section of line, from Killeen to Dundalk, was opened in 1850. With the completion of the Craigmore Viaduct in 1852, the entire line between Belfast and Dublin became fully operational. Secondary source: 1. WA McCutcheon (1980), The industrial archaeology of Northern Ireland, (Belfast: HMSO).

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This bridge is of some architectural interest on account of its design and standard of execution. It has historical associations with Sir John Macneill and William Dargan ('father' of Irish railways). However, its modest scale and modern alterations do not make it sufficiently special to merit continued listing.

General Comments

**Under consideration : awaing additional information** 30th March 2004

Date of Survey

15 May 2000