Roe Road Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A fine six arch stone bridge spanning the River Roe where it skirts the western limits of Limavady town. The river has cut a precipitous eastern bank so that the bridge carriageway has been raised high above the water level to overcome a steep incline into Catherine Street. As no development has occurred on the western bank the bridge makes a dramatic entry into the town a little akin to a drawbridge approach to a mediaeval castle. The four eastern arches are wider and higher than the two western which take only flood waters though now heavily silted up. The river, in the main, flows through three arches. That next to the town merely serves drainage from it. This arch was rebuilt on the downstream side several decades ago. The Ordnance Survey Memoirs describes the bridge “has six arches, the span of each of which is as follows; commencing on the west side of the bridge: no. 1 20 feet, no. 2 20 feet, no. 3 30 feet, no. 4 30 feet, no. 5 37 feet, no. 6 31 feet. The two extreme west arches are wet only in times of flood. A part of the bridge which now still exists was built in 1700; its expense, defrayed by the county, is unknown. In 1828 it was widened throughout its whole extent by the county at an expense of 4000 pounds, and its breadth at present is 28 feet from one curtain wall to the other, including a raised footpath 5 feet in breadth. The curtain walls are 3 feet high on an average and 18 inches thick”. This description is as the bridge is to-day except for the alterations to the eastern arch and concreting around the bases of the arch walls and breakwaters.

The curtain walls dominate the arches and stretch a considerable distance along the road on the western side. The walls are peppered with the caps of restraining tie rods. The arches are formed of long schist voissoirs with no attempt at precision, indeed profiles of the arch intradoses are a little irregular adding to the charm of the bridge. The bridge in 1828 was increased in width from five metres to eight and a half and the older section retains the corbel stones left to support the formwork for the arch construction. The construction joint between the early and later work is easily seen and indeed the undersides don’t quite line up. The breakwaters on the downstream side are triangular while on the upstream side are semi-circular with their tops rounded off. The stonework on the whole is random rubble in iron stained schist but the parapet walls are of basalt with rounded sandstone copings each cramped together with wrought iron though a great number of theses are now missing. The rebuilt downstream side of the eastern arch is carried out entirely in basalt but the voissoirs are neatly executed in sandstone contrasting with the vernacular quality of the other arches. Above the breakwaters on the upstream side recessed panels were left to accommodate the flanges of the tie rods. On the downstream side at the central breakwater a flattish stone buttress extends upwards to about two metres above the top of the arch line.

At the western end, downstream side, an access laneway with boundary wall, has been constructed adding to the bridge’s visual appearance.

Historical information

C. 1700, increased in width throughout its length in 1828. Downstream side of eastern arch rebuilt c. 1960s.

IHR No.

References:
Primary Sources:
OS Map 'Newtown Limavady' enlarged from 1st Edition Map (1831) PRONI: Val 2D/5/4 & T2933/4/126

Secondary Sources
D Girvan, 'The Buildings of north Derry' UAHS 1975 p14
Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. 9, Co Londonderry II
Road Services Branch

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

B. Proportion
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A fine example of early bridge construction and extension work. A charming early 18th century bridge in a dramatic approach to the town of Limavady. The listing includes the entire extent of curtain and parapet walls including the access laneway on the west downstream side with its boundary wall.