Bridge over Larne River

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A triple arched bridge of snecked rock-faced basalt in rough courses; arches of segmental form with voussoirs of vernaculated sandstone; angled cutwaters to each face; projecting string course across top of upper voussoirs; slight returns to abutment pier at each extremity; broad sandstone coping, feathered, with similar weathered copings to end abutments, partly replaced by concrete to original profile at north eastern corner; copings surmounted by wooden railings on iron angle brackets; parapets have two sandstone blocks dropping to carriageway level each side. Carriageway of tarmac.

Setting: the bridge spans the Larne River at the end of a cul-de-sac off Station Road, created when the elevated dual carriageway cut the bridge off from the centre of the town. It has grassed banks to each side but the southernmost arch on the eastern side is obscured by the projecting return of premises on Station Road.

Historical information

Date of building not recorded but first appears on the OS map of 1857; probably dates from the 1840s or early 1850s and may be attributed to Charles Lanyon, County Surveyor at that time with responsibility for bridges and other public buildings. The bridge lies in the possible area of a scheduled monument, no. ANT 40:34.

References - Primary

1. OS Map 1857, Co Antrim 40.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An early Victorian masonry bridge exhibiting good proportions with most of its original fabric intact but spoiled by later additions and a spoiled setting.