Glenarm Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Triple span stone bridge of 1823, with ramped approaches, which was widened in 1921 with a concrete deck supported on concrete ‘cantilever brackets’ and panelled concrete guardrails. The bridge carries traffic over the Glenarm River and is located adjacent to the west side of Glenarm Harbour.

The N and S faces are identical. Three segmental headed arches with voussoirs are supported on two cut waters and the outer edges of the ramps. Voussoirs are smooth dressed sandstone while the main walling finish is rock faced stone. Paired cantilever brackets to each side extend c.2m to carry recent concrete decking. Panelled concrete guard rails protect the edges. The ramped approach to the E side has battered rock faces side walls and simple iron railings; that to the W is shorter and had been recently strengthened with shuttered concrete.

Historical information

This bridge was built in 1823, to designs by engineer David Logan and at a cost of roughly £600. It superseded the bridge now known as the ‘Barbican Bridge’ to the south and designed to direct traffic further from the eastern wall of the Glenarm Castle estate. The bridge was widened in 1921 to cope with the increased volume of motor vehicles. The Grand Jury Records for County Antrim however do make reference to a contract with 'Mr Ritchie' for 'Glenarm Bridge' in summer of 1837, possibly a refrence not to this bridge but to the viaduct.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.2977/36/3/1A Antrim Papers Map, showing the Town of Glenarm, plus Glenarm Castle and demesne, by John O'Hara, 1779.
2 Ulster Museum A view of Glenarm Castle (painting dating from some time between 1768 and 1812) [This painting also shows the town itself.]
3 View of Glenarm c.1769-c.1812 (painting in possession of Lord Dunluce)
4 “The town and castle of Glenarm, Co. Antrim” [1830] by T.M. Baynes in ‘Ireland illustrated’ (London 1831)
5 ‘Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland…’ vol.13 [c.1830-35] ed. Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1992), p.127
6 PRONI OS/6/1/29/1 OS map, Co Antrim sh 29, 1832-33
7 PRONI OS/8/103/1 OS town plan of Glenarm, 1903
8 PRONI VAL/12E/31/1 Valuation town plan of Glenarm, 1907-[1935]
9 PRONI VAL/3G/20/1 Valuation town plan of Glenarm. 1936-57
10. Grand Jury records, County Antrim, 1837, p245.

Secondary sources
1 Eileen Black, “A view of Glenarm Castle” in ‘The Glynns- Journal of The Glens of Antrim Historical Society’ vol.7 (1979), pp.29-30
2 Jimmie Irvine, “A map of Glenarm- 1779” in ‘The Glynns- Journal of The Glens of Antrim Historical Society’ vol.9 (1981), pp.52-61
3 Felix McKillop, ‘Glenarm- A local history’ (Glenarm 1987), p.37

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Triple span stone bridge of 1823, with ramped approaches, which was widened in 1921 with a concrete deck supported on concrete ‘cantilever brackets’ and panelled concrete guardrails. The bridge carries traffic over the Glenarm River and is located adjacent to the west side of Glenarm Harbour. Does not meet criteria for listing.