Tullywiggan Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This is a single-arch early nineteenth century rubble stone road bridge over Killymoon River, built c. 1830. It has squared random rubble stone walls with cut-stone capping to the road. There is coursed rubble to the soffit of the bridge. There is a single round-headed arch with cut-stone voussoirs. The road is approximately 10 metres in width. It has overgrown banks to the West of the river, and an open grass area to the East. The bridge is sited spanning Killymoon River to the South of Cookstown.

The road is staggered and crossed the river at right angles. It is likely that this replacement bridge follows the line of the road and river crossing followed by its predecessor.

Historical information

This bridge is probably that shown on this site on the OS map of 1833-34, marked ‘New Bridge’. As such it may date from c.1830. On later OS maps it is marked ‘Tullywiggan Bridge’.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/6/38/1 OS map, Co Tyrone sheet 38, 1833-34
2 PRONI OS/6/6/38/2 OS map, Co Tyrone sheet 38, 1857
3 PRONI OS/6/6/38/3 OS map, Co Tyrone sheet 38, 1906

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
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a well proportioned and elegant late Georgian road bridge with an unusually wide single span.

The stagger in the road layout creates clear views of the arch thus enhancing the setting which is rural and unspoiled .