Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB17/15/021

Address :
Regent Bridge Banbidge Road Dromore Co Down BT25

Townland:
Ballymaganlis Drumbroneth

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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:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
202/4

IG Ref:
J2006 5331

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

Regent bridge is a triple-arched masonry road bridge over the River Lagan at the west end of Dromore. The bridge is of random rubble blackstone construction. The abutments and piers are cement-rendered. There are angled cutwaters on the upstream piers only, of regularly coursed granite blocks rising to arch crown level. All the arches are of segmental span; the central one is wider and slightly higher than the end ones; all have dressed granite voussoirs. There is a small carriageway drainage hole above each of the piers on the downstream face. The parapets are coped with roughly-dressed flattish granite blocks; no terminal piers. Set into the middle of the road face of the downstream parapet is a limestone plaque (framed with dressed granite) reading: “Regent Bridge/ built/ in the 30th year of the/ residence in his See/ of the Right Reverend/ Thomas Percy DD/ Lord Bishop of Dromore/ to whom/ this memorial of their respect/ is inscribed by the/ inhabitants of the town/ of Dromore/ AD 1811”. There are remnants of steel 20th century lamp brackets along the top of both parapets. The north end of the upstream parapet has been truncated to give access to a balcony along the river frontage of the adjacent house. Just beyond the SE end of the bridge is a footpath giving access to a riverside walk downstream therefrom. There is a small interpretative plaque hereabouts as well. At the NW end is Dromore High Cross in the grounds of Dromore Cathedral (re-erected here in 1887). The deck carries a two-lane road with a footpath running along both sides. There is some overgrowth, including a tree, on the bridge’s upstream face. Setting On one of the main streets in the town with various buildings to north and south.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

A plaque on this bridge attests to its construction in 1811. It superseded a narrow mid-18th century bridge a short distance upstream (which was subsequently replaced by the present Downshire Bridge, HB/17/15/017) and the main Belfast-Dublin road was realigned to cross it instead. It was undoubtedly named after the son of King George III, who became Prince Regent on 5 February 1811 following his father’s illness. The 1837 Ordnance Survey Memoir notes: “Regent Bridge, situated near the church, is 75ft long and 35ft broad. It consists of three semicircular arches and is built of whinstone and granite. On the parapet wall is a stone with the following inscription - Regent Bridge, built in the 30th year of the residence in his See of the Right Reverend Thomas Percy DD, Lord Bishop of Dromore, to whom this memorial of their respect is inscribed by the inhabitants of the town of Dromore AD 1811”. It apparently cost £434 to build; this was presumably met by public subscription. Bishop Percy became Bishop of Dromore in 1782 and was responsible for rebuilding the adjoining cathedral's tower and north transept HB17/15/022). He died on 30 September 1811 and is commemorated by this bridge which is shown on all OS maps from 1833 onwards. It is captioned ‘Regent Bridge’ on the 1903 map and subsequent editions. It was superseded in 1972 as the main crossing point over the Lagan hereabouts by a reinforced-concrete bridge on the bypass west of the town. References Primary sources: 1. Commemorative plaque with construction date (1811) on parapet. 2. PRONI OS/6/3/21/1. First edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 21 (1833). 3. OS Memoir for Dromore Parish (1837). Reprinted as A. Day & P. McWilliams (eds), Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland: Parishes of County Down III, 1833-8, Mid-Down, p.75 (Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1992). 4. PRONI OS/6/3/21/3. Third edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 21 (1903). Secondary sources: 1. W.A. McCutcheon, ‘Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland’, plate 6.5 (Belfast: HMSO, 1980). 2. Modern interprtative plaque beside bridge. .

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

R. Age S. Authenticity X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Regent bridge is a triple-arched masonry road bridge of 1811 over the River Lagan. Its relatively plain construction is typical of bridge construction of this period. Its design is well-executed. It is also of local historical interest due to its location on what was formerly the main Belfast-Dublin Road, and because of its attested date and association with the Prince Regent.

General Comments

New listing criteria R & S to be added when available.

Date of Survey

12 December 2012