Kidd's Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This is a three-arch squared stone railway bridge built, c.1867. It has rock-faced squared and snecked stonewalls with irregular stone capping. The arches are segmental-headed with brick dressings. The brick arches are arranged in three rows of red brick, with a projecting rounded yellow brick row to the outer perimeter. The arches are supported on two rock-faced cut-stone piers to the central arch. The bridge is approximately 6 metres in width. The bridge forms part of a series of railway bridges, as part of the former GNR railway network.

It is very similar in design to Grange Road Bridge HB09/05/024.

Historical information

This bridge was built as part of the Dungannon and Cookstown Railway line, and as such dates from the main period of this railway’s construction, c.1876-79. This railway, later part of the GNR, opened in July 1879, closed to passengers in January 1956, and was shut down completely in January 1965.

References- Secondary sources
1 McCutcheon, W.A., 'The industrial archaeology of Northern Ireland' (Belfast, HMSO, 1980), p.164, plate 32.5
2 Johnson, Stephen, ‘Johnson’s atlas & gazetteer of the railways of Ireland’, (Midland Publishing Ltd., 1997), p.99

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a picturesque, well proportioned 3-arched railway bridge. Although somewhat rare elsewhere, triple arched railway bridges are a feature of the GNR lines in this area.
It is well preserved and in near original condition.

The bridge has a well preserved setting, and is an important element in the surviving elements of the GNR network.