Railway Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single arch railway bridge.

A single segmented arch bridge with well cut rockfaced sandstone voissoirs and spanning 3½ metres. Abutments and parapet walls built of random rubble basalt. The parapet wall is raked and above the arch a raking flat band. Parapet 14 metres long with returned ends typical of Lanyon & McKinnon bridges. The bridge forms access from top of Fairhill Street to agricultural fields. There is quite a change of ground level hence the raked incline of the bridge carriageway.

Historical information

The bridge forms access for agricultural purposes over the former Ballymoney/Ballycastle railway line. The railway was given Royal Assent on 22nd July 1875. Plans were prepared by John Lanyon and J E McKinnon and construction began Jan. 1879 for 3”-0” guage line. Traffic commenced on 18th October 1880. The 1st builder appointed, Messrs Connor & Manistry, got into financial difficulties and the contract was continued by Messrs Butter & Fry. The traffic ceased in 1950.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1904 Ballycastle.
2. O.S. Map 1972 Antrim sh. 8.
3. Pattterson, The Ballycastle Railway. p. 27.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An interesting small segmented stone arch railway bridge of the later Victorian era forming a convenience access for agricultural purpose. Interesting too, because of change of level the raking manner of the construction. The structure is not considered to be a railway bridge of special interest however in the context of established listing criteria.