Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Railway bridges at
Ballylig, Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Bridge
- Date of construction
- 1840 - 1859
- Address
- Railway bridges at, Magheramorne Cement Works, 100 Shore Road, Magheramorne, Larne, Co Antrim
- Townland
- Ballylig
- Council
- Mid and East Antrim
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.81536, -5.76631
- Date of survey
- 30 May 1998
- HB reference
- HB06/05/040
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1831 "Scotland southern." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
A single-arched bridge of basalt rubble spanning the railway line: shaped limestone voussoirs to segmental arches; red brick vault; squared rock faced abutments. Top of bridge inaccessible and now fulfils no apparent function as it appears not to lead anywhere at the north end where it is overgrown.
Standing some distance to the west is a triple arched bridge of basalt rubble which formerly carried the railway over pedestrian passages to a pier but access through arches now fenced off; shaped limestone voussoirs to semi-circular arches; basalt rubble copings; red brick vaults.
Between these two masonry bridges are three flat concrete slab bridges carrying the railway over pedestrian and vernacular routes.
Setting: The bridges stand within the area of a cement works, formerly a lime works, close to the shore, with various abandoned buildings nearby.
Historical information
Bridge over railway appears on OS map of 1857; precise year of building not recorded; may be attributed to Charles Lanyon, architect and engineer who laid out the railway line to Larne. The triple archway carrying the line further to the west may be taken to date from the same time and is also attributable to Charles Lanyon. The concrete bridges to the west of the main bridge are inscribed, from west to east, with the dates 1951, 1953, and 1934.
References - Primary
1. OS Map 1857, Co Antrim 41.
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
The masonry bridges are well executed examples of early Victorian bridge engineering of conventional but typical design, robust of construction and handsome in appearance, attributable to a leading Irish rail engineer of his time, but otherwise not of special interest
Nearby in the register
- Bridge carrying main road atBridgeunder 1 mi
- Twin bridges over Shore RoadDemolishedunder 1 mi
- Old quay for lime works atHarbour/ Pierunder 1 mi
- Lime kilns atRural Industryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.