Largy Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Largy bridge spans the River Roe where the Dogleap Road crosses a rocky ravine between the townlands of Deer Park on the east side and Largy on the west. The Dogleap Road links the Ballyquin and Drumrane Roads which connect Limavady and Dungiven on the east and west sides of the river respectively. The river, the adjacent countryside, the rocky ravines stretching from Carrick to Roemill, makes for an exciting and enchanting landscape and is referred to as the Roe Valley County Park.

Structure consists of two arches, one spanning the river where it rushes between rocky sides and the other carries the roadway over the upper rock terrain of the ravine. Width of roadway between parapets 4.5 metres, parapet height 1.2 metres, span of north arch 12 metres, span of south arch seven metres. The north arch springs from the rocky ledges on each side of the river approximately six metres above normal water level. The arch, while segmental, is almost a semi-circle. The south arch also springs from rocky ledges but it is a dry arch and the level of the ground coincides with the springing line and would seldom have water pass under it. There is no evidence in the construction of the bridge being increased in width.

The bridge is constructed of whinstone with thin whinstone voissoirs approximately 600mm in depth. The soffit of the arches of whinstone on edge. The north arch has four tie rods passing through the width of the arch above the voissoirs and approximately three metres apart. The rise of the north arch above the springing line approximately five metres.

At the north end of the bridge is the Broughan House (HB02/13/011) on the upstream side where the road turns abruptly at right angles and on the outside of the bend facing the bridge is a former corn store (HB02/13/008). At the south end the upstream parapet terminates against brick piers, a metre square and 2.4 metres high adjacent to Ritters former powerhouse (HB02/03/008) and iron gates can close off the road on this side. There is a pass gate within one gate leaf. The parapet wall is 29 metres long. The carriageway of the bridge rises over the main arch from the north side and then levels off from the crest.

Historical information

A bridge was erected here in c1624 by the City of London (Irish Society) and at this time the land was in the ownership of Sir Thomas Phillips. As a result of Phillip’s petition to King cJuly 1624, the Committee replied and article 22 of that reply states “That the City should take into their consideration the great necessity of a bridge near the New Town over the river of Roa (Roe), which riseth so suddenly that if it were for the safety of a kingdom neither horse or foot can pass from Derry to Coleraine, and £300 will make a fair bridge of stone…” The bridge collapsed in 1680 and later after 1782 when McCausland family extended their estate a wooden bridge was erected. In 1828 a new bridge was built by the Grand Jury at a cost of £4000. This bridge was later widened and became a toll bridge, the work being carried out in c1840s by famine relief workers. The bridge has altered little since then except for maintenance, repairs and insertion of tie roads on the east arch. The Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. 25 describes the bridge as ‘2 arches each 40 feet wide and 1 small arch 10 feet; the bridge is 12 feet wide on top… parapet 3 feet high… built of whinstone, on a rock in the river and in good repair’. Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. 9 (J O’Donovan “another higher up river at Dogleap… is a remarkably picturesque object.”

References:

Sir Thomas Phillips Londonderry and the London Companies 1609-1629 p.70
Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. 9. P.90-91
Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. 25. P.122
Notes obtained at Roe Valley County Park Visitor Centre
Industrial Archaeology Record Reference: 1680: 8

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

B. Proportion
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An exciting example of a late Georgian bridge erected under the Grand Jury system, of rustic style and character in a dramatic setting, an illustration, in its alterations of famine relief work of the 1840s and in its setting and juxtaposition with adjoining buildings helps create a good grouping. It has historical associations especially in its close proximity to Ritter’s electricity ventures and thus has local national and social importance and is a focal point in the Roe Valley County Park