Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB17/13/022

Address :
Thornyford Bridge Blackskull Road Dromore Co Down BT27

Townland:
Coolsallagh

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
25/10/1977 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:
202/02

IG Ref:
J1590 5404

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

Thornyford Bridge is a four-span masonry arch bridge which carries a minor road over the River Lagan. The bridge is constructed with random rubble blackstone throughout. The four arches are of approximately the same size and have semicircular profiles, undressed voussoirs and gunited soffits. There are angled shallow cutwaters at both ends of the piers, rising to arch crown level and tapering off on the parapets. The parapets are coped with roughly squared stone blocks and splay out slightly at both ends. The carriageway has a slight curve and a water pipe is buried therein. Two telegraph poles have been placed across the upstream face of the bridge to stop cattle wading downstream. Setting Rural in farmland; heavily wooded riverbanks. There is a drinking place for cattle on the south bank at the east side of the bridge.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Taylor & Skinner’s 1777 map of Ireland shows a road crossing at this point. Although not mentioned in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs, it is captioned as Thornyford Bridge on all editions of the OS maps from 1834 onwards. Its plain appearance supports an 18th century date and it might well be the one on the 1770s’ map. References – Primary sources: 1. A. Taylor & G. Skinner, Maps of the Roads of Ireland, p.285 (Dublin, 1777). 2. PRONI OS/6/3/20/1. First edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 20 (1834). 3. PRONI OS/6/3/20/2. Second edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 20 (1858). 4. PRONI OS/6/3/20/3. Third edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 20 (1903).

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Thornyford Bridge is a four-span 18th century masonry arch road bridge over the River Lagan. It is a good example of 18th century bridge design – rubble masonry construction, angled cutwaters, relatively narrow carriageway, and lack of ornamentation.

General Comments

Date of Survey

23 November 2012