Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Formil Bridge
Formil, Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Bridge
- Date of construction
- 1900 - 1919
- Address
- Formil Bridge, over the River Formil, Gelvin Road, Dungiven, Co Londonderry
- Townland
- Formil
- Council
- Causeway Coast and Glens
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.94707, -6.78647
- Date of survey
- 19 January 2000
- HB reference
- HB02/07/016
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 1891 "Ireland 16" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
A single arch stone bridge of about 7 metre span. The arch is almost semi-circular and formed of bold rock faced voissoirs springing from a projecting string course over vertical supports. The underside of the vault is finished almost smooth in mortar. The stonework is coursed rubble roughly squared. The supporting walls project slightly beyond the face of the bridge abutments to form slight breakwaters. The bridge carries the Gelvin Road over the Formil river which is the boundary line of the ward and Limavady District Council area.
The parapet walls are 23 metres long, straight and finished with round hogsback coping in cement. The bridge has a blue enamelled metal plaque displaying its name.
The Gelvin Road approaches to the bridge are straight and the surrounding county moorlike though partially cultivated. Nearby is the beginning of Gortnamoyagh forest. The bridge is prominent in such a
setting.
Historical information
The bridge would appear to be of mid 19th century vintage. The road is not shown on the O.S. nap 1832 and a ford is indicated on the O.S. map Rev. 1853. O.S. map 1908 shows Formil Bridge.
IHR. No. 1857
References
Primary Sources
1. O.S. map 1st Rev. 1856-58 Londonderry sh. 25.
2. O.S. map 2nd Edition 1908 Londonderry sh. 52.2
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
A fine simple but bold late Victorian bridge with sturdy proportions and robust semi-circular arch well constructed. It makes a positive visual contribution as well as a utilitarian one to a bleakish landscape.
Nearby in the register
- Gelvin RoadFarm Buildingsunder 1 mi
- 98 Gelvin RoadDemolishedunder 1 mi
- Ashlamaduff BridgeBridgeunder 1 mi
- Lisnascreghog SchoolDemolished1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.