Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Bridge over River Bann
Ballyaughian/ Lisnamulligan, Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Bridge
- Date of construction
- 1980 - 1999
- Address
- Bridge over River Bann, Lisdrumgullion Rd, Hilltown, Newry, Co Down, BT34 5XA
- Townland
- Ballyaughian/ Lisnamulligan
- Council
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.21483, -6.12878
- Date of survey
- 10 February 1999
- HB reference
- HB16/07/045
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
University Library, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamUniversity Library, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 3 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1922 "Ireland - northern section." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
A modern triple-span steel girder bridge carries a minor road over the River Bann. Finely dressed granite abutments and piers (with curved ends) are topped with cast concrete on which rest four longitudinal RSJs (+ one cantilevered out on each side) over which is a reinforced concrete deck slab. Vertically railed metal parapet. Let into the masonry wing wall on upstream left side is a small metal plate reading "H McG/ 1896". Of similar construction to HB16/07/049 (upstream).
Historical information
A ford is marked at this location on the 1834 OS 6" map. A footbridge is explicitly captioned on the 1859 map. The 1901 map shows a more substantial road bridge.
The Grand Jury presentment book of summer 1895 notes the awarding of a £170 contract to Hugh McGreevy of Tullynasoo for the reconstruction of a wooden bridge between Lisnamulligan and the head of Lindsay's ford in Ballyaughian. The plaque therefor refers to this reconstruction and it is likely that the abutments and piers are of this date given their high standard of workmanship. At the spring assizes of the following year William Patterson of Drumnascamph was awarded £6.14d.6d. for the tarring of the said bridge.
The DOE Road Service records show its deck to be of reinforced concrete between two steel girders; it was cast in situ, curved corrugated iron being used as the formwork for its underside. A similar type of construction can been seen on a footbridge near Hilltown (HB16/07/047). The deck was replaced with the present one in 1989.
Primary sources:
1. 1st edition OS 6" map, Down sheet 48 (1834).
2. 2nd edition OS 6" map, Down sheet 48 (1859).
3. 3rd edition OS 6" map, Down sheet 48 (1902).
4. Plaque on bridge.
5. Co. Down presentment book, summer 1895 (PRONI: DOW 4/2/65, entry 992).
6. Co. Down presentment book, summer 1896 (PRONI: DOW 4/2/66, entry 1105).
7. DOE Roads Service bridge records (bridge no.420).
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
Of some technical interest in illustrating contemporary bridge design and the replacement/modernisation of an earlier girder bridge, of which the plaque is the most interesting feature.
Nearby in the register
- Former flax millRural Industryunder 1 mi
- 11 Ballycoshone RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- Former flax mill opp. 20 Mill RoadMillunder 1 mi
- Marker stone on junction ofWater Works Structuresunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.