Bridge

The National Monuments Service's description

On River Aherlow which flows W to E. This is a five span bridge, each span is of equal height, with semi-circular arches (N span Wth 4.2m). The road rises across the bridge (L 33.7m; Wth 6.95m between parapets), which is fairly level. There is a parapet on either side (E Wth 0.44m; H 0.9m; W Wth 0.46m; H 0.78m). The upstream, W face has four cut-stone cutwaters and each arch has cut-stone voussoirs with a pronounced keystone. The E face is heavily overgrown with ivy. The arches have roughly cut voussoirs. The original bridge (Wth 4.5m) has been widened. This is clearly visible where the later arches of the extension (Wth 3.35m) to the W are built up against the earlier bridge. The lower courses were keyed into the existing masonry. The bridge extension has clear evidence of plank-centring under the arch which is not visible on the earlier arches. The extension appears to be of mid-late 18th-century date which implies that the original bridge is 17th or early 18th-century in date.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011