Middle Gelvin Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 2 arch coursed sandstone bridge.

Segmental arches spanning 5½ metres each with well formed voissoirs, horizontally tooled faces without tooled margins and springing from comparatively low supporting walls which terminate upstream with quasi-pointed breakwater and downstream rounded and with half spherical caps. The stonework of bridge is roughly squared and coursed and repeated on the soffit of the vault. There are no string courses but the parapet walls are returned slightly at each end on the upstream side. Parapet walls straight and 25 metres long with carriageway width of 6 metres. The bridge is strengthened with tie rods, 2 to each arch. Parapets are finished with a hogsback coping in concrete.

The bridge is set in a very pleasing agricultural landscape which falls gently to the Gelvin Burn on either side. The approach roads, that to the North known locally as the "Crooked Brae" curve and bend and add charm to the
setting.

Historical information

The bridge probably dates from the 2nd half of the 19th century. A bridge crossing is shown here on the 1832 O.S. map.

IHR. No. 1851.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. map 1st Edition 1832 Londonderry sh. 25

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A pleasing sturdy segmental 2 arch coursed sandstone bridge of the mid Victorian period set in peaceful undulating agricultural landscape.