Mourne Bridge,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A seven-span road bridge, dated 1785, carrying Carn Road over Mourne Beg River. Random rubble parapets and spandrels with cast-iron wall-ties; rubble coping to parapet. Seven semi-circular-headed arches with rubble voussoirs; rubble V-shaped cutwaters; that to north and two to south are flood arches. Arch soffits are cement rendered.

The carriageway is approximately 6m wide. Parapet wall continues beyond bridge at north and south to form boundary wall to surrounding agricultural land; some cement repairs to parapet; triangular-headed datestone within carriageway to west parapet.

The bridge is located in a rural
setting to the west of Castlederg.

Roof N/A
Walling Random rubble
Windows N/A
Rainwater goods N/A

Historical information

Mourne Bridge bears a datestone of 1785.

The bridge appears, uncaptioned, on the first edition OS map of 1833. It spans the Mourne Beg river near its junction with the River Derg. On the second edition of 1853, it is captioned ‘Mourne Br’.

References:

Primary Sources:

1. PRONI OS/6/6/15/1 – Ordnance Survey Map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/6/15/2 – Ordnance Survey Map 1853
3. PRONI OS/6/6/15/3 – Ordnance Survey Map 1904-5
4. NI Environment Agency McC A6/41- McCutcheon Collection (undated, c.1965)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Z. Rarity
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest

Evaluation

A seven-span bridge, dated 1785, carrying Carn Road over Mourne Beg River. This large multi span stone bridge is largely unchanged from its construction date, with only minor cement repairs to the parapet walling. The bridge is an impresive example of late-eighteenth century engineering work and enjoys an unspoiled rural setting.