Bridge at Highlandtown,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single arched masonry bridge, stilted to the seaward side, carrying the coast road over a stream, built of snecked basalt rubble with dressed sandstone voussoirs and a limestone vault. The arch is segmental in form. There is a limestone platband at carriageway level continuing as raking copings to angled abutments. The copings have crumbled at the extremities.

Western parapet is of coursed granite blocks to inner face, with basalt rock copings; rubble finish to outer face. Eastern parapet is of limestone rubble to inner face, with basalt boulder copings; outer face much strengthened by concrete. Carriageway flat.

SETTING: The bridge stands in a very rural area, located on the coast. Steep grassy banks to the west or inland side; on east or coastal side the shore is formed of rocks and boulders.
Trees have taken root above the angled abutments on the inland side.
Banks to each end on seaward side have been heavily bolstered by poured concrete.

Historical information

The year of construction is not known but it appears on the OS map of 1857 and may be presumed to date from c 1842-3 when the coast road from Glenarm to Cushendall was in progress of being built, to the designs of the County Surveyor, Charles Lanyon.

References – Primary Sources
1. OS Map 1857, Co Antrim 25.

Secondary Sources
1. F. Hamond, Antrim Coast and Glens: Industrial Heritage (HMSO, Belfast, 1991), p 86 (item no. 53).
2. IHR 7691.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is an example of early Victorian bridge engineering, attributable to a well known Irish architect and engineer, but its setting has been spoiled.