BRIDGE

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A late 18th century twin-arch masonry road bridge over the Glenariff River at the NW end of Waterfoot.
The bridge is of random rubble basalt construction. Angled cutwaters rise to arch spring level on both ends of the pier. Its two equi-sized arches are of segmental profile and have roughly-dressed basalt voussoirs. The inside faces of both parapets are finished with randomly-sized squared basalt rubble. Their original dressed sandstone coping stones largely survive on the upstream parapet but have been replaced with concrete on the downstream side.
A small metal pipe is carried across the downstream (NE) face of the bridge, set into concrete on top of the cutwater. There is a second pipe embedded in the road where it runs along the inside face of the downstream parapet.
A short distance upstream is a modern metal girder pedestrian footbridge. Between the two bridges on the right (SE) bank is a former sewage discharge pipe. It is set in a concrete emplacement, from which a cast-metal ventilation pipe rises vertically.

Setting:
The bridge is immediately SE of the T-junction between Main Street and the Coast Road. There is a small public amenity area just upstream on the right bank, and a house and garden immediately downstream on the same bank. The left bank is undeveloped rough open ground.

Historical information

This bridge is noted in the 1835 Ordnance Survey Memoir as being 45fft long and 24ft wide; "it consists of two elliptical arches. It is in but middling order". It is on the line of the old Coast Road, much of which was superseded by the present Antrim Coast Road which was built in the 1830s. It is probably of later 18th century date and is depicted but not captioned on all Ordnance Survey map editions from 1832 onwards.

References - Primary Sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/1/20/1. OS 1:10,560 map, Co Antrim sheet 20 (1832).
2. 1835 Ordnance Survey Memoir for Layd Parish. reproduced by A. Day & P. McWilliams (eds), Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland: Parishes of Co Antrim IV - Glens of Antrim, p.48 (Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1992).
3. PRONI OS/6/1/20/2. OS 1:10,560 map, Co Antrim sheet 20 (1857).
4. PRONI OS/6/1/20/3. OS 1:10,560 map, Co Antrim sheet 20 (1903).
5. PRONI OS/6/1/20/4. OS 1:10,560 map, Co Antrim sheet 20 (1920).
6. PRONI OS/11/25/13/1. OS 1:2500 map, Irish Grid sheet 25-13 (1973).

References - Secondary Sources:
1. F.W. Hamond, Antrim Coast & Glens Industrial Heritage, p.79 (Belfast: HMSO, 1991).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Wel proportioned double span stone road-bridge, probably of later 18th century date. Despite the addition of a pipe across its downstream face and replacement of the coping stones on its downstream parapet, it retains its essential character and enjoys a fine setting at the entrance to Cushendall.