Bridge

The National Monuments Service's description

Five-arched bridge, located off the Dublin-Belfast road north of Swords village where it crosses the Broadmeadow river. It is marked on the Down Survey (1655-6) map. Built of mortared limestone masonry. The bridge has three abutting sections, the middle section has slightly pointed arches with wattle marks. The upriver cutwaters are triangular with semi-pyramidal cutwater cappings. It has been dated to the period 1450-1550 (O'Keeffe, P. and Simington, T. 1991, 186-188).
Ground penetrating radar and test –excavation (Licence no. 09E0464) undertaken in advance of the proposed Metro North identified that much of the medieval fabric has survived within the Lissenhall Bridge structure. A wall extends on the eastern side between Lissenhall and Balheary Bridges and an arch/culvert predating the existing visible culvert on the western side of the bridge exists beneath the road. This is suggestive of a precursor or early phase of building, possibly indicating an early road prior to the redevelopment or widening of the road in the late 17th/early 18th century (Channing 2009, 21).

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Date of upload: 09 January 2015

References

O'Keeffe, P. and Simington, T. 1991 Irish stone bridges: history and heritage. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.

Channing, J. 2009 Assessment Report on the Results of Metro North Advance Archaeological Test Trenching, Area 6, Lissenhall Little and Balheary Demesne townlands, Co. Dublin (Licence no. 09E0464). Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.