Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Calhame Bridge
Tamniarin, Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade B2
- Grade
- B2
- Type
- Bridge
- Date of listing
- 22 March 1996
- Date of construction
- 1840 - 1859
- Address
- Calhame Bridge, over Sruhanadumpan Burn, Tamniarin, Dungiven, Co Londonderry
- Townland
- Tamniarin
- Council
- Causeway Coast and Glens
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.89118, -6.87840
- Date of survey
- 19 January 2000
- HB reference
- HB02/07/001
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1838 "Ireland, north sheet." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
A single semi-circular stilted arch stone bridge carrying the Birren road over the Sruhanadumpan Burn, which flows into the River Roe. The arch spans approximately 6 metres and rises with straight sides from the stream bed because of the depth of the stream below road level. The abutments are battered to line with the top of the arch but stops on either side of it a little more than the depth of the voissoirs. The voussoirs are large, rusticated with rockface and good tooled margin. The rubble stonework is well executed on the entire bridge and the quoins are well formed.
As the road inclines on the bridge the parapet, which is kept horizontal, steps twice. Each step is curved convexly and concavely and the parapet coping is of bold flat stones with tooled margins on the vertical. The parapet terminates in a rounded form with the copings well shaped to the curve.
The roadway is approximately 6 metres wide and parapet length some 30 metres. The burn is almost gorgelike with rapid fall where it passes under bridge. Bed of stream has been concreted. The bridge
setting is picturesque though the immediate surrounding countryside bleak. The setting is spoiled on the downstream side by dumping.
Historical information
A bridge is shown over the Sruhanadumpan Burn on the 1832 O.S. map but the style of the present bridge would suggest a much later date. The bridge is not referred to in the O.S. memoirs. It is probably mid 19th century.
IHR No. 2000
References
Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1st Edition 1832 Co Londonderry Sh.31
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
A. Style
B. Proportion
J. Setting
Criteria for listing: historic interest
X. Local Interest
Evaluation
Calhame bridge has well proportioned and vigorous form, good robust detailing and is well constructed. The stilted arch is characteristic of the gorge-like sides of the burn. The batter of the abutments adds to the robust character which is best appreciated from 10 metres upstream and downstream. The detailing of Calhame bridge is repeated on other bridges in the locality (eg HB02/07/007) and is of good local historical interest.
Nearby in the register
- 31 Birren RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- Tamniarin BridgeBridgeunder 1 mi
- Bridge over Owenalena BurnDemolished1 mi
- CloghagallaArchaeological Site2 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.