Road/Rail Bridge, Craigmore Road, Newry, Co Down

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This bridge carries a single-track road on a single masonry span over a cutting created by the former double-track Goraghwood – Newry railway. The bridge comprises a single semi-elliptical skew span and is of granite throughout. The abutments are of large rock-faced blocks laid in regular courses. The spandrels, parapets and wing walls are of squared rubble; the spandrels are regularly coursed, the parapets are laid randomly, and the wing walls are also random, but brought to courses. The wing walls are battered and have rusticated quoins.

Embellishment takes the form of a finely-dressed chamfered string course through the arch at spring level (returning around the quoins), rusticated quoins and voussoirs (the latter are stepped into the spandrel courses), and a finely-dressed projecting string course across each face above the arch crown. The arch soffit comprises finely dressed granite blocks set on the skew.

The north parapet is coped with finely-dressed chamfered blocks. The coping on the south wall has been replaced with concrete.

The carriageway has a slightly humped back and the road makes a dogleg on both approaches. There is a narrow footpath along the south parapet. A cast-iron pipe is carried across the outside face of the north parapet. It is supported over the crown of the arch by a large concrete block built into the face of the spandrel.

Historical information

Line constructed by Newry & Enniskillen Railway Company and opened in 1854. Intended to link with Enniskillen, but line constructed only as far as Armagh. At Goraghwood, the line crossed the Belfast – Dublin railway. With laying of line between Edward St Station and Dublin Rd Station in 1861, this line also connected with Warrenpoint. Line acquired by Great Northern Railway Co in 1879. Closed 1965. The bridge is assumed to be part of the original layout of the Newry to Armagh line. Designer unknown.

Sources:

1. D. Fitzgerald, 1996, The Warrenpoint branch (Omagh: Colourpoint Press).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Although it is degraded by the modern pipe across its north face and concrete coping, its elegant arch profile, subtle detailing (in the coursing and dressing of the granite), soffit construction and high standard of execution all make this bridge of interest.