Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Crown Bridge New
Damolly/ Sheeptown, Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade B2
- Grade
- B2
- Type
- Bridge
- Date of listing
- 26 October 1995
- Date of construction
- 1800 - 1819
- Address
- Crown Bridge New, Rathfriland Road, Donaghmore, Newry, Co Down, BT34 1LD
- Townland
- Damolly/ Sheeptown
- Council
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.19576, -6.30765
- Date of survey
- 07 March 2000
- HB reference
- HB16/14/035
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 Libraries
4 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1790 map "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1790 · Composite: Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1799 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1808 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1811 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
This bridge carries the main Newry - Rathfriland road over the Clanrye River. It comprises three semicircular spans in quarried rubble granite, with dressed-granite triangular cutwaters on both up- and down- sides (terminating at arch spring level). The voussoirs are of finely dressed granite, with raised keystones. The parapet is topped with squared granite blocks. The road makes a dogleg approach to the bridge, and is slightly humped as it passes over. In plan, it has a curvature at its east end, necessitating the corbelling out of the end of the eastern arch on the downstream side.
Historical information
This bridge was constructed when the present main Newry - Rathfriland road replaced the old route to the east in the 1810s; it is shown in a proposal for the new route on a map of 1814. It is shown on the 1834 OS map. The c.1835 Ordnance Survey Memoir says of this road: "The new road ... is, in order to avoid the hills, very winding ... It was made and is kept in repair at the expense of the county". Of the bridge, it states only that: "there is a three arch bridge ... on the new line of road".
Primary sources:
1. James Wilson, 1814, A map of the new intended line of road from Newry to Castlewellan in the townland of Carnehaugh (PRONI: D 671/M9/17).
2. OS 6" map, 1834, Co Down sheet 46.
3. Ordnance Survey Memoir, Newry Parish.
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
Criteria for listing: historic interest
X. Local Interest
Evaluation
The bridge's style would accord with the early 19th century date suggested by the documents. Its style is similar to the nearby Sheep Bridge (HB16/14/019), albeit slightly less embellished. It is a good example of early 19th century bridge construction, its dressed stone embellishment giving it a degree of architectural interest. It is also an interesting contrast with the original Crown Bridge (HB16/14/034) nearby.
Nearby in the register
- House 160m south of jumction with Upper Damolly RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- Rose CottageDemolishedunder 1 mi
- Ellen ValeHouseunder 1 mi
- ElmgroveHouseunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.