Bridge on Boghead Bridge Road, Aghalee, BT67 0EF

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single-span stone-built bridge of c.1840, carrying a road over a drainage channel. The bridge is located on the Boghead Bridge Road, roughly 2.5km west of the hamlet of Lower Ballinderry.

The bridge is of semi-formal appearance and is constructed in squared semi-coursed rubble, with a segmental arch with roughly dressed voussoirs and a string course over. The parapets have roughly-fashioned square end piers and equally roughly-fashioned upright stone coping. The underside of the arch appears to have been covered in sprayed concrete.

Historical information

Although this road was in existence prior to 1832, the bridge itself is later, constructed sometime between 1832 and 1857, when the drainage channel it carries the road over was cut. The bridge is shown on the revised edition OS map of the latter year, and marked ‘Boghead Bridge’ on the second edition map of 1900-01.

The bridge takes its name from the plot of ground to the immediate east, which is captioned as such on the OS map of 1832 and upon which several buildings are shown.

References – Primary sources
1 OS maps six-inch county series, Co. Antrim sheet 62, 1832, 1857, 1900-01

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Boghead Bridge is located on the Boghead Bridge Road, roughly 2.5km west of the hamlet of Lower Ballinderry. It is a single-span stone-built bridge between 1832 and 1857, carrying a road over a drainage channel. The bridge is of semi-formal appearance and is constructed in squared semi-coursed rubble, with a segmental arch with roughly dressed voussoirs and a string course over. Despite the underside of the arch appearing to be covered in sprayed concrete, Boghead Bridge is a good example of an authentic rural stone bridge, of local interest.