Killibleught Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 3 arch stone bridge on a straight stretch of road with the Almover burn passing under at right angles with slightly humped carriageway. The width between parapets is 7 metres and parapets 33 metres long. The arches vary. The 2 to the south are 3 centred, with hefty rustic voissoirs which now spring from concrete haunches which are wide and restrict the width of the stream. The intrados on the centre arch is clean and smooth showing its stonework. The intrados of the other is overgrown with weeds though the stream bed is quite free. The north arch appears semi circular but is an acute segment. The apex of its arch is higher than the other two and the stream flowing through it is silted up. Between each arch the imposts project up and downstream to form cutwaters. The concrete haunching extends well beyond the cutwaters so that only in big floods would the waters rise to them. Each arch is approximately 4½metres wide.
The tympanum and parapets are built of random rubble stone from local quarries. The arch heights are comparatively low and there is the minimum of stonework over the arches to the carriageway surface. The bridge has a low appearance and the parapet is about a metre high. Coping rounded on top is smooth rendering which is carried down the outside of the parapet to form a deep smooth band stretching over the elliptical arches but not the segmented one.

The bridge has a romantic appearance with a laneway along the riverbank to facilitate collection of water for farming activities. The view upstream towards the bridge makes a pretty picture.

It is possible that this bridge was increased in width in Victorian period but a construction joint was not obvious.

Historical information

Killibleught bridge is referred to in the O.S. Memoirs where it is described as one of 3 good bridges. However it is described as “built substantially of freestone and consists each of 3 semi-circular arches 12 feet in span”. This would suggest that 2 arches were rebuilt namely the elliptical arches. The north arch could be mistaken as semi-circular. The original bridge would date from the late 18th century. The bridge was probably substantially widened in the 19th century.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Maps 1st Edition 1832 Londonderry sheet no 24

Secondary Sources
1. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland Parishes of Co Londonderry VII 1834-5 p.4

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A good example of a 3 arch stone bridge of the late 18th century which was considerably improved in the 19th century without losing its essential charm. It enjoys a fine setting in the Altmover Burn just before it joins the River Roe. It has a good rustic appearance. There are, however, many similar examples.