Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A triple-arched masonry bridge carrying Liscalgot Road over the River Creggan. The bridge marks the southern edge of ‘Poet’s Glen’ which is associated with nearby Creggan Church (HB16/16/001A). Constructed c.1800 of random rubblestone, the bridge deck is humpbacked in profile. The bridge comprises three semi-circular headed arches with large central arch and smaller flanking arches to north-east and south-west. V-shaped cutwaters to piers rising to arch level having sloping triangular cap. Double layer of voussoirs over arches comprising cut-stone inner layer and split stones to upper voussoirs. Arch soffits lined with corrugated metal. Northern parapet has been rebuilt in uncoursed quarried rubblestone walling with concrete coping and double-layer of castellated rough stones. Southern parapet with humped profile, comprises random rubblestone with coursed soldier coping. Four tie rod and pattresses to spandrels. Parapets sweep sharply to north-eastern approach to accommodate road approach. Bitmac carriageway with narrow footpaths to each side.

Setting: The bridge is located adjacent to a tree-lined avenue which formerly led to the nearby former parsonage and Creggan Church. The bridge and road are set within a broader landscape of agricultural fields and trees to the south of Creggan, Crossmaglen.

Walling: Random rubble stone

Historical information

The bridge is marked, uncaptioned, on the first edition OS map of 1835, no name being shown on later historic map editions. The bridge carries Liscalgot Road over the Creggan River, and lies adjacent to the entrance driveway leading to the parsonage (of which some ruins remain) beside Creggan Church (HB16/16/001A). It is situated on a minor road which was only partially in existence at the time of Rocque’s map of County Armagh (1760). Rocque shows a road leading to the river in the approximate location of the current road but this does not cross the river.

Creggan Church is thought to have been built in 1758, and the parsonage some years previously, in 1622, in association with an earlier church. The Incumbent lived elsewhere during the period 1728-1784 but the Rector from 1784 to 1790 was Dr James Archibald Hamilton. Hamilton carried out works to the parsonage and built a new wing as well as planting a variety of trees and is said to have ‘ornamented and improved the demesne in a high degree’. It is possible that the bridge was constructed during his time as Rector. Hamilton went on to be appointed as astronomer and keeper of the Armagh Observatory and Museum in 1790.

Creggan Church occupies a site of some antiquity and is traditionally believed to date back to the 15th century, a church on the site having been built by the O’Neills. The churchyard at Creggan is the burial place of several notable Gaelic poets, namely Art McCooey, Padraig MacAliondain and Seamus mor MacMurphy, and the Creggan valley south of the church is known as Poet’s Glen. The bridge forms part of the southern boundary of this area.

The style and construction of the bridge would appear to be consistent with a late 18th to early 19th century date. It is constructed of roughly dressed rubblestone in uneven courses but the voussoirs appear carefully shaped. The arches are semi-circular in section giving the minimum degree of side thrust to abutments and piers, which can indicate less experienced bridge builders. The bridge crosses the river at right angles which would restrict the stress in the arches. This results in an abrupt change of direction to the road leaving the bridge to the east, another indication of less experienced bridge builders. However, the bridge, at c20 feet wide is more substantial in width than the narrow rural bridges of the 18th century.

References:
Primary Sources:

1. PRONI OS/6/2/31/1 First Edition Six Inch OS map (1835)
2. Donaldson, John A Historical and Statistical Account of the Barony of Upper Fews in the County of Armagh, 1838. Reprinted 1923 by Dundalgan Press, Dundalk
3. Nelson, Rev Simon A History of the Parish of Creggan from 1611 to 1840. Unpublished manuscript available at Linenhall Library.
4. PRONI OS/6/2/31/2 Second Edition Six Inch OS map (1862)
5. PRONI OS/6/2/28/3 Third Edition Six Inch OS map (1906-7)
6. PRONI OS/6/2/28/4 Fourth Edition Six Inch OS map (1956-7)
7. PRONI D1594/291 Rocque’s map of County Armagh (1760)

Secondary Sources:

1. McCutcheon, W A ‘The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland’ Belfast: HMSO (1980)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
F. Structural System
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Attractive rural bridge with some architectural interest including cut-stone and natural split-stone voussoirs, V-shaped cutwaters and castellated copings.The bridge is potentially of an early date and contributes to the rural landscape in an area of historic significance due to its association with nearby Creggan Church/Parsonage and the Poet’s Glen.The substructure shows no evidence of any bridge widening, original width has been retained.