Glenedra Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single arch stone bridge.

A single segmental arch bridge over the Glenedra Water/ Crooked Burn without any apparent supporting walls as the arc of the arch springs directly from the stoney river bed. There may be a considerable build-up of gravel. The arch, 6¼ metre span, is faced with large well shaped rectangular voissoirs and the arch soffit finished in daubed mortar. Walls of bridge built of random rubble stonework. On the downstream side there would appear to have been repair work carried out around the arch and the wall of the bridge is finished with rendering neatly squared off. The parapet wall is 18½ metres long on each side and at each end returned to form a straight buttress. Carriageway is 6½ metres wide. Parapet wall has large well formed hogsback sandstone coping stones. Because of the lack of supporting walls to the arch the whole bridge has a very low appearance, very appropriate in the wild landscape through which the Glenedra Road threads.

The Glenedra Road is straight and almost flat at the bridge crossing. The river turns almost at right angles to pass under the bridge. The river banks on the upstream side are strengthened with random rubble walls. Downstream of the bridge is a picnic area and the beginnings of the Banagher forest.

Historical information

The Glenedra Road dates from c1820. It is referred to by John McCloskey as “a very useful new road”. The O.S. Memoirs echoes McCloskey’s comment. The present bridge is likely a replacement of the first bridge and might even be late 19th cent.
I H R No. 2083

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1830 Londonderry sh. 30.
2. O.S. Map 1830 Rev. 1905 Londonderry sh. 30
3. John McCloskey, Statistical Reports of Six Derry Parishes, 1821, p. 74
4. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry X, 1833-34, 1838

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A simple well constructed low segmental arch that makes a positive statement on the Glenedra Road as it wends its way across the Sperrin Uplands where the lonely landscape is further enhanced by emerging forest cover.