BRIDGE

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A replacement three-arched masonry road bridge erected over the Carey River in 1852.

This three-arch bridge is carries a minor road over the Carey River. The right-bank (E) arch is dry in normal circumstances. It is of roughly-squared sandstone rubble throughout with angled cutwaters to arch spring level on both faces.

Its three equi-sized arches are of segmental profile with dressed sandstone voussoirs. However, their soffits are of random rubble except for a section of the left-bank one which has been repaired in concrete. A dressed sandstone string course runs across both faces just above arch crown level. The parapets are coped with irregular sandstone stones alternately laid on their flats and edges. The parapets terminate in out-projecting piers which continue down both faces of the bridge as buttresses. The piers are capped with sandstone flags of diminishing size.

The abutments and piers are now footed in concrete to minimise undercutting.

The bed of the river has also been concreted below the middle and left-bank arch to minimise scouring. It was probably deliberately paved originally for the same reason. There is also a small weir across the river immediately downstream to slow up the water as it passes under the bridge. A pipe is carried across the upstream (S) face.

Setting:
The bridge is surrounded by fields to all sides. A short distance upstream, on the left bank, are the ruinous remains of water-powered corn and flax mills.

Materials:
Walling Roughly-squared sandstone rubble
Dressings Sandstone

Historical information

Prior to the construction of what is now the main road between Cushendall and Ballycastle in the 1830s and 1840s, the minor road on which this bridge is located connected two earlier roads between these two towns which ran parallel with one another - one over Cushleake Mountain and the other via Clady Burn. An un-named bridge is shown on this road at this location on all editions of the OS maps from 1832 onwards.

The quality of the present bridge's construction suggests that it is a mid-19th C rebuild (possibly of a timber original). Its date is confirmed by an advertisement placed in the Belfast News-Letter in June 1852 by the County Antrim Grand Jury: "To build a bridge on the road from Ballycastle to Cushendall, between the post road at Ballypatrick and the Ballyvanaght road, in the townland of Ballypatrick at Lord Antrim's mill. Not to exceed £200."

At this time Charles Lanyon was the County Surveyor and it was he who undoubtedly designed this replacement bridge.

References - Primary Sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/1/9/1. OS 1:10,560 map, Co Antrim sheet 9 (1832).
2. Advertisement placed by Co Antrim Grand Jury in Belfast News-Letter, 28 June 1852.
3. PRONI OS/6/1/9/2. OS 1:10,560 map, Co Antrim sheet 9 (1857).
4. PRONI OS/6/1/9/3. OS 1:10,560 map, Co Antrim sheet 9 (1903-04).
5. PRONI OS/6/1/9/4. OS 1:10,560 map, Co Antrim sheet 9 (1922).

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
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-arched masonry road bridge erected over the Carey River in 1852, close to now ruinous remains of water-powered corn and flax mills.The quality of the present bridge's construction suggests it is a mid-19th century rebuild (possibly of a timber original). Its date is confirmed by an advertisement placed in the Belfast News-Letter in June 1852 by the County Antrim Grand Jury: "To build a bridge on the road from Ballycastle to Cushendall, between the post road at Ballypatrick and the Ballyvanaght road, in the townland of Ballypatrick at Lord Antrim's mill. Not to exceed £200." Charles Lanyon was the County Surveyor at the time and it was he who undoubtedly designed this bridge - the sturdy style and proportion of this structure together with its lack of ornamentation are typical of many minor mid-19th century bridges, although the irregular parapet copings contrast with the dressed sandstone blockwork commonly found on other bridges in this region. Modern concrete footings, otherwise fabric is as original.