Bovagh Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A four-arched masonry bridge, possibly of 16thC origin, widened c.1796, carrying a road over the Agivey River and of random rubble basalt throughout. Arch 1, on the left (N) bank is now dry, having been blocked by a mid-19th century water-powered flax mill to its immediate W. Arches 2-4 span the river proper, which it descends through a series of shallow rapids.
There are angled cutwaters on the up- and downstream ends of the piers, rising to arch spring level. The abutments and piers of the river spans are underpinned with concrete.
All four arches are of segmental profile, the middle two (i.e. arches 2 and 3) being slightly wider that the end ones. Breaks in all the arch soffits show that the bridge has been widened by 8ft at its upstream end from 13ft to its present 21ft. The spandrels have been heavily repointed and two metal tie bars inserted through each arch, just above the voussoirs.
The parapets have been rebuilt as their rubble basalt stonework differs slightly from the rest of the bridge and has been brought to courses. The downstream one is slightly advanced beyond the spandrels and both are coped with concrete. A modern steel plaque at the S end of the E parapet names of the bridge and river. The deck has a slight curve.
The right bank has been faced with stones upstream and down from the bridge.

Setting
The bridge is in open countryside, with woodland to its E and SW. At NW is a two-storey mid-19th century water-powered flax mill, now refurbished for other uses. It is aligned N-S at right angles to the river and has a pitched natural slate roof with plastic ogee rainwater goods. Random rubble walls with brick eaves course and brick apex to S gable. Infilled openings, some trimmed with brick, to E and W elevations, and doorways to GF and FF on N gable.
At the N end of the approach road from N is a small culvert for the mill’s tailrace. It is now infilled except for its arch crown on its W face. The headrace entered the mill at the N end of its W side but has been infilled to create a small gravelled car park for use by anglers.

Schedule:
Rubble basalt construction

Historical information

An uncaptioned bridge is shown at this location on the 1832 OS six-inch map. It is described in the 1836 Ordnance Survey Memoir for Aghadowey as having four arches, the spans of which are given as (from N to S): 13ft 8in, 20ft 6in, 20ft 6in and 13ft 6in. The width of the roadway was 19ft, and the parapets were 3ft high but in bad repair. It goes on to state: “The bridge is very old. … It was built about 300 years ago and made broader in the year 1796”. It is cited on the 1853 OS map and subsequent editions as Bovagh Bridge.

The spans of the present structure match those in the OSM and there is also physical evidence of its widening. It therefore corresponds with the OSM description in every respect. Whether it is of early 16th century date, as the OSM claims, has yet to be verified.

The mill adjacent to the bridge is first cited as a flax mill on the 1853 OS map. It is not on the 1832 map, and probably dates from the 1840s or early ‘50s.

References - Primary sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/5/19/1, First edition OS six-inch map, Co Londonderry sheet 19 (1832).
2. OS Memoir for Aghadowey Parish (1836). Reprinted as A. Day & P. McWilliams (eds), Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland: Parishes of County Londonderry VI, 1831-6, North-East Londonderry, p.11 (Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1993).
3. PRONI OS/6/5/19/2, Second edition OS six-inch map, Co Londonderry sheet 19 (1853).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A four-arched stone and brick road bridge possibly of 16th century date and widened to its present form c.1796. The plain utilitarian architecture of this structure is typical of pre-1800 bridges. Whilst it would fit comfortably with an 18th century construction date, it is less certain whether is significantly earlier, as claimed by the Ordnance Survey Memoirs. Its modest scale gives it added interest, as does the nearby mill. It is also of local historical interest in terms of the documentation and physical evidence of its widening.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; S - Authenticity and T - Historic Importance also apply.