Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Survey sighting tower
Brackenagh West, Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Water Works Structures
- Date of construction
- 1880 - 1899
- Address
- Survey sighting tower, Brackenagh West Rd, Ballymartin, Kilkeel, Newry, Co Down, BT34
- Townland
- Brackenagh West
- Council
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.11579, -5.97750
- Date of survey
- 23 July 1997
- HB reference
- HB16/02/041
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1866 "Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Tapered tower in shuttered concrete (with a high content of beach pebbles in the aggregate). Of square cross-section standing 3.35m high overall on a 1.37m square/ 1.07m high base. Two threaded lugs on top. Near the tower is a wrought-iron gate into the adjoining field of standard Belfast Water Commissioners’ design.
Historical information
Used as an object pillar in the alignment of the Breckanagh Tunnel which lies on the water conduit from the Kilkeel River (Silent Valley) to Dunnywater. This was part of the Belfast City & District Water Commissioners’ Mourne Scheme to bring water to Belfast. The tunnel was constructed by Messrs Fisher and Le Fanu for the Belfast Water Commissioners in the 1890s. It was completed, after considerable difficulty, in 1903. It is one of five such object pillars along the line of this tunnel, and the only recorded survivor. The top was accessed by a temporary wooden ladder.
Primary Sources:
1. PRONI – WAT 1/3CG/3 and WAT 1/3CG/7 (BCDWC Minutes).
2. DOE Water Service, Westland House, Old Westland Rd, Belfast – drawing 3A21.45.
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
Of some historical interest in connection with the first phase of the Mourne Scheme, and a rare survival of later 19th century surveying.
Nearby in the register
- Former Bingian SchoolOutdoor Pursuits Centre etcunder 1 mi
- 131 Head RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- 87 Ballyveaghbeg RdDemolishedunder 1 mi
- Ballyveagh HouseHouseunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.