Bloody Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A six-span, slightly humped road-over-river bridge, built c. 1820, carrying Edenderry Road over Camowen River. Roughly coursed squared-and-snecked sandstone abutments, spandrels and parapets; V-cutwaters to both faces; stone soldier coping to parapets. Six segmental-headed arches (four at east over river; two at west are flood arches over grass verges) with sandstone voussoirs; and exposed rubble soffits. The single carriageway is approximately five metres wide flanked grass verges.

Setting
The bridge is located on the Edenderry Road in the rural landscape west side of Edenderry village. Grass embankments to all sides; public fishing area to north-east.

Roof N/A
Walling sandstone
Windows N/A
Rainwater goods N/A

Historical information

The “Bloody Bridge” is captioned on the first edition OS map of 1833. It is also mentioned in the OS Memoirs, “The bridges thrown over the Camowen are those of…Bloody bridge, Campsie…all of substantial stone” (p.20).

McEvoy, writing in 1802 found that, “Roads and bridges are generally well attended to by the gentlemen of the county, many of whom are excellent judges of such public works and take great pains to have them well executed.” (p.118)

McCutcheon confirms this; “At this time, Tyrone was subscribing more money for roads and bridges than any other northern county. Moreover within the county itself building materials were plentiful – basalt, gravel and lime-stone – and this greatly facilitated road construction at a time when transport costs for such heavy, bulky materials were so high.” (p.41)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/43/1-3 – Ordnance Survey maps (1833, 1854, 1906)
2. Day, A and McWilliams, P eds. ‘OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Tyrone I, 1821, 1823, 1831-36, Vol 5’ Institute of Irish Studies, 1990

Secondary Sources

1. McCutcheon, W.A. ‘The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland’, HMSO, 1980
2. McEvoy, J ‘County of Tyrone 1802, A Statistical Suvey by John McEvoy’, Friar’s Bush Press, 1991

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An substantial six-span, (slightly humped) road-over-river bridge, built c. 1820, carrying the Edenderry Road over the Camowen River. The bridge is a robust example of early-nineteenth century engineering work; its size and good detailing are of note. Historically, it represents the development of the road network in the county.