Owenbeg Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 3 arch stone bridge, slightly humped over the Owenbeg River. The bridge has 3 semi-circular arches with the centre one higher than the others because of the wider span ( 7.5 metres approx.) and slightly higher springing line. The other spans are about 6 metres. Arches constructed with roughly squared voissoirs of sandstone with skirting walls in rubble stonework. Between the arches there are triangular breakwaters with ½ pyramidal tops. The parapet walls are 30 metres long and 1metre high with large copings, slightly overhanging on the carriageway side. The carriageway width is 7 metres between parapets and the parapet on the upstream side curves slightly. At the springing line of the arches there is a course of sandstone of larger size.

The river bed under and below the bridge is concreted and there is a weir some 10 metres downstream with a central fish by-pass.

The bridge is situated at right angles to the riverbed and in a picturesque stretch of river. The main road has been realigned so that the bridge is now a quiet backwater with a sunken picnic area adjoining . Steps lead down to it from the end of the parapet at the W end.

Historical information

A bridge constructed c 1795 and referred to in the O S Memoirs. Its construction is similar to the Buttermilk bridge spanning the Owenbeg further downstream. The semi-circular arch usage is typical of late 18th c and early 19th c construction.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A good example of a semi circular arch bridge of the late 18th century and early 19th century. Well built of local sandstone with slight humpback and of national and local interest in a picturesque setting. The setting could be considered as a distance of 30 metres upstream and downstream including the riverbanks and trees.