Aughlish Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This is a triple-arch concrete road bridge spanning the Ballinderry River over river built about 1930.

It has an in-situ concrete structure with concrete panelled parapet to the roadway. The arches are segmental-headed with two concrete piers supporting the central arch. The bridge ends are supported off short piers set within the raised banks. The bridge soffit has four reinforced concrete ribs resting on the piers. The piers extend to the road wall level, with rectangular capping. The walls have concrete panelled formwork with splayed stone capping.

Historical information

On the OS map of 1833-34 no bridge is shown in this location, the road simply stopping at the river bank. On the 1857 map ‘stepping stones’ are marked. The bridge, (marked ‘Aughlish Bridge)’ is shown for the first time on the OS map of 1937, and may date from c.1930.

References- Primary sources

1 PRONI OS/6/6/29/1 OS map, Co. Tyrone sheet 29, 1833-34
2 PRONI OS/6/6/29/2 OS map, Co. Tyrone sheet 29, 1857
3 PRONI OS/6/6/29/3 OS map, Co. Tyrone sheet 29, c.1905
4 EHS OS map Co. Tyrone sheet 29, 1937

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

This medium-scale bridge represents the progression of engineering within the early-mid twentieth-century. The construction in reinforced concrete adds to the civil engineering legacy of Co. Tyrone, and its deep span represents the innovative ethos of this era. It is quite an early example of the genre and its robust style and detailing express its function admirably.