Bridge

The National Monuments Service's description

Crossing the River Suir at the SW end of Golden village, this bridge continues across a small island in the river where a tower house (TS060-097001-) is located on its N side. The Civil Survey (1654-6) refers to ‘Goulden’ and describes how ‘Upon this lands stands a castle with a bridge uppon a pass’ (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 7). It is likely that much of the fabric of this bridge dates from the 15th or 16th century, though it was modified in the second half of the 18th century. An eleven arch bridge (L 82m; Wth 6m; parapet T 0.45m, H above bridge surface 1.1m) built of limestone rubble, roughly coursed, runs NE-SW for most of its length, making up six arches, then angles and broadens slightly, continuing due NW, making up five arches. Eight of the arches are four-centred and three are smaller round-headed arches, the latter in the over-flow channels at the centre and both ends. The narrow channel at the NE end of the bridge was used for the tail-race from a flour mill which is indicated on the 1st (1840) ed. 6-inch OS map 54m to the N. On the underside of each of the larger spans are corbels, on both sides of the arch, which supported the formwork for the arch construction. There are nine dressed stone cut-waters, triangular in plan, on its NW side. The caps of each of the cut-waters are rendered with concrete, as are the soffits of the arch spans. There are also a number of rectangular drain-holes in the parapet. A date-stone crudely inscribed 1761 is incorporated into the masonry of the parapet on the NW side of the bridge, near the present entrance to the tower house.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 19 February 2013

References

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1934 The Civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. II: county of Tipperary - Western and Northern baronies. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.