Evishessan Bridge,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This is a four-arch rubble mid to late Nineteenth century stone bridge over the Broughderg river. It has squared roughly coursed rubble stonewalls with regular cut-stone stone capping to the road. It is orientated on a roughly North – South axis.

The arches are segmental headed with cut stone dressings. The arch soffits are of smooth render. The two arches to the North are submerged in the river whereas the two arches to the South are spanning the bank. There are splayed cut stone cutwaters between the arches to the North, with splayed smooth capping. The road over, Keerin Road, is approximately 8 metres in width.

The bridge spans the Broughderg River within the rural environs of Evishessan/Beagh More.

Setting
It is located to the Northwest of Cookstown. It is surrounded by open marshy countryside.

Historical information

This bridge does not appear on the OS map of 1853, but is shown on that of 1906. The date of its construction is uncertain, however, its appearance suggests it may be of c.1860

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/6/20/1 OS map, Co Tyrone, sheet 20, 1833-34
2 PRONI OS/6/6/20/2 OS map, Co Tyrone, sheet 20, 1853
3 PRONI OS/6/6/20/3 OS map, Co Londonderry, sheet 45, 1906
4 PRONI EHS OS map, Co Tyrone, sheet 20, 1937

Secondary sources
1 McCutcheon, W.A., 'The industrial archaeology of Northern Ireland' (Belfast, HMSO, 1980 [for reference]
2 O’Keefe, Peter and Simington, Tom, ‘Irish stone bridges…’ (Irish Academic Press, 1991) [for reference]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a fine example of a plain, rustic, mid to late Nineteenth century road bridge. It is unusual in that there are four arches, two of which appear to allow for flood conditions. It has been well preserved and is in original condition; its rural setting is also well preserved.