Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB24/16/045

Address :
Drumreagh Bridge, Moss Road, Drumreagh, Ballygowan, Newtownards Co. Down BT23 6LE

Townland:
Drumreagh

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
25/11/1992 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:
167/10

IG Ref:
J4620 6267

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

Road bridge at a bend in the Moss Road, c.2 miles SE of the village of Ballygowan. The bridge is in random basalt rubble with two segmental arches and a central cutwater. The foundations/base of walls of the entire bridge are faced with concrete. The N face of the bridge appears largely original, however the cutwater on the S face has been built up in concrete in order to support a pipe which itself cuts across both arches. A road level on both parapets is a small narrow opening (presumably for drainage). Sections of the parapets appear to have been re-pointed in fairly recent times. A plaque on the parapet to the S reads ‘Drumreagh Bridge Built By Patrick Patton AN. Do. 1806’. The road is covered in tarmac. A short distance to the W of this bridge is a modern looking two storey house with a high castellated wall to the rear with a plaque which reads ‘Florida Manor Pound A.D. 1638’. The style of lettering on this plaque resembles that on the bridge (and that on the old court house of 1822 in the near by hamlet of Kilmood) suggesting that the inscription dates from the early 19th century and not 1638.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

As its plaque suggests, this bridge appears to have been built in 1806 by one Patrick Patton. It is shown on the OS maps of 1834 and 1858 where it is marked ‘Drumreagh Bridge’ on both. In fairly recent times the foundations have been strengthened in concrete and (some time after Jan. 1972) the cutwater on the S side was built up in concrete in order to support a pipe. The house to the W of the bridge (which now appears modern) stands beside the site of the Florida Manor pound. The pound (?presumably an area were straying cattle were detained) is marked on the 1858 OS map, but not that of 1833. Primary sources 1 PRONI OS map 1st ed. 1834 Down 16. 2 PRONI OS map 1st rev. 1858-60 Down 16. 3 EHS OS map 167-10 (1:2500) 1973. Secondary sources 1 W.A. McCutcheon ‘The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland’ (HMSO 1980), pp.15-16.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style H-. Alterations detracting from building

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Rubble-constructed road bridge apparently built in 1806 whose base has been strengthened with concrete in fairly recent times. The cutwater to the south side has been altered in order to support a pipe.

General Comments

Date of Survey

19 January 1999