White Bridge,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single-span cast concrete bridge erected in classical style c.1950, set to the north of Baronscourt mansion, between Lough Catherine and Lough Mary.

The bridge consists of a single shallow segmental arch carried on four segmental steel girders (visible within the soffit). The spandrels are panelled and plainly detailed; abutments are terminated at either side by slightly projecting square piers, also with panels. Contained within piers is a precast concrete balustraded parapet with saddleback coping.

The bridge carries a dirt road over a wide stream which links Lough Mary with Lough Catherine. Embankments are grassed and the north lawns of the mansion are located directly to southeast; there is woodland to north and grazing land to west.

Material: Precast concrete

Historical information

The present White bridge appears to date from c.1950, erected on the site of an earlier stone bridge. The bridge appears to have undergone repairs carried out by Lynch & Sons in 1998.

White Bridge, formerly Holme’s or Holmes’s Bridge is first recorded by name on the 1833 OS map connecting ‘Seat’ and ‘Boat Ho’ between Lough Catherine and Lough Fanny. The OS maps record it as ‘Holmes’s Br’ until 1907 when it becomes ‘White Br’.

There are some additional sources to help establish a date for the original bridge. A letter dated 23 May 1814 shows that the bridge existed before this date: ‘Divin has sloped the banks on each side below Holmes bridge and is deepening the channel there, and I think it will be a great improvement.’ A bridge (though not labelled) is recorded at this point on a 1777 ‘Map of Barons Court Park’ in the Manor of Derrigoon.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI D/623/D/1/16/72 – Map of Baronscourt Park (1777)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/17/1 -First Edition OS Map (1833)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/17/2 -Second Edition OS Map (1854)
4. PRONI OS/6/6/17/3 -Third Edition OS Map (1907)
5. PRONI D623/A/127/20 - Letter from John James Burgoyne, Strabane, to the Marquis of Abercorn dated 23rd May 1814

Secondary Sources

1. Bence-Jones, M. “A Guide to Irish Country Houses.” Second Revised Edition. London: Constable and Robinson, 1990.
2. Day, A. and P. McWilliams, eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Tyrone I, 1821, 1823, 1833-36, Vol. 5.” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1990.
3. Dean, J. A. K. “The Gate Lodges of Ulster.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1994.
4. Lewis, S. “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Vol. I.” London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837.
5. O’Brien, J. and D. Guinness. “Great Irish Houses and Castles.” London: George Weidenfield & Nicolson Ltd., 1992.
6. Rowan, A. “North West Ulster: Londonderry, Donegal, Fermanagh, and Tyrone.” Dublin: Penguin Books, 1979.
7. Scott, Robert W. L., Abercorn Estates Agent and Factor. “Letter Concerning
8. Semple’s Bridge, White Bridge and Black Bridge to David Kirk, Environment and Heritage Service.” 15 January 1998. Collected in Historic Buildings File, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Monuments and Buildings Record.
11. The Irish Architectural Archive Dublin. [Internet Source] Available from: (Accessed 22/04/09)
12. Young, R.M. “Belfast and the Province of Ulster in the Twentieth Century.” Brighton” W. T. Pike, 1909

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

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A precast concrete bridge erected c. 1950 in the classical style, spanning the shallow tributary between Lough Catherine and Lough Mary, just to the north of Baronscourt mansion. The bridge is elegant in style and could easily be taken for an early nineteenth century bridge, but on closer inspection it is seen to be constructed of concrete and steel; materials which seem incongruous in the context of the magnificent setting of the Baronscourt demesne. However, the classical style of White Bridge does complement the demesne, which is included in the Register of Parks and Gardens, and it is an important landscape feature within the setting. It has group value with the other listed structures in the demesne.

General comments

Renumbered as part of a group-previously HB10/04/043