Blackcave Tunnel

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A basalt and sandstone parabolic arched and vaulted road tunnel carrying the main coastal road from Larne to Ballygalley through a basalt headland. It consists of an arch of rusticated sandstone voussoirs with tooled edges, at each end of a basalt vault. There is a sandstone string-course over each arch, the spandrels being filled with coursed basalt, and the space above up to the natural stone opening being filled with basalt rubble.

Historical information

This tunnel was cut in the early 1840s in connection with the construction of the Antrim Coast Road which was initially laid out by the engineer William Bald (under the auspices of the Board of Works) in 1832 and completed by the engineer Charles Lanyon in 1842.

References - Primary

1. Photographs in the Green Collection, UFTM (WAG 108 and WAG 2191).

Secondary

1. W.A. McCutcheon, The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland, HMSO, Belfast, 1980, pp 29-31.
2. C. Dallat, The Road to the Glens (Belfast, 1989), p 3 (old photograph shows archway before later painting of voussoirs).
3. D. Corcoran, A Tour of East Antrim (Belfast, 1990), p 19 (reproduces a photograph from the Green Collection).
4. F. Hamond, Antrim Coast and Glens Industrial Heritage (HMSO, Belfast, 1991), pp 61 and 90.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

F. Structural System
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
Z. Rarity
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a comparatively rare but particularly well-known example of a rock-cut road tunnel which is also of historical and scenic interest due to its connection with the famous Antrim Coast Road..