Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/07/025

Address :
McComb's Bridge Castlewellan Rd Rathfriland Newry Co Down

Townland:
Ballycoshone Lower/ Lenish

---

Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
22/09/1981 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

---

OS Map No:
254/5

IG Ref:
J2318 3308

---

Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

This bridge carries the main Rathfriland - Castlewellan Road over the Upper Bann River, two miles east of Rathfriland. It comprises three semicircular spans, the middle one of which is the highest and widest. It is of random rubble granite throughout, with angled cutwaters to carriageway level on both sides. Projecting stones along the arch spring lines indicate the position of the falsework on which the arches were constructed. The parapets are coped with squared granite blocks and are 43cm thick. The carriageway is 6.2m wide is rises slightly from west to east. The bridge has an overall width of 7.06m (23ft 2in). Metal tie bars have been inserted across the spandrels in the more recent past, the soffits 'gunnited' (sprayed concrete) and the banks pitched with shuttered concrete. The bed of the river is pitched with boulders.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

A road is shown on Moll's 1714 map crossing the Bann at this point, and a bridge captioned on Harris's 1743 map. It is cited by name on the 1833 OS 6" map and described in the 1836 Ordnance Survey Memoir (Clonduff Parish) as: "... an old structure of unhewn stone, not in very good repair and having two parapet walls 5' high. It is thrown over the River Bann, which is there 66' broad. It consists of three arches. Its total length is 156' and breadth 18'. Whether the existing structure is the same as that described in the OSM is uncertain - its parapets are now lower (presuming the 5ft is from the carriageway), but its width is the same (presuming the 18ft to relate to the roadway only). On balance the rubble stonework and full-length cutwaters suggest an 18th century bridge. Primary sources: 1. H. Moll (1714), A New Map of Ireland. 2. W. Harris (1743), A New and Correct Map of ye County of Down. 3. 1st edition OS 6" map (Down sheet 42).

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion D. Plan Form F. Structural System

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A well proportioned and finely executed bridge typical of the period.

General Comments

Date of Survey

10 February 1999