Lyons Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small, single arch, rubble built road bridge of possible part pre, part post 1834 construction, carrying the Raleagh Road over the Ballynahinch River. The bridge is located roughly 2.5 miles E of Ballynahinch.

The bridge is largely in random fieldstone rubble. There is a single semicircular arch with rough dressed fieldstone voussoirs to the SW side and granite voussoirs to the NE. The soffit is covered in recent looking render. Metal ties have been inserted into the bridge. The road is covered in Tarmac.

Historical information

A bridge is shown on this site on the OS map of 1834 marked ‘Lyons Bridge’. The 1836 OS Memoirs describe it as ‘small’, measuring ‘66 by 9 feet from 1 buttress to the other’ with ‘the appearance of being ancient’ and the arch ‘almost covered in ivy’. On this evidence it is probable that the structure was 18th century, however the dimensions show that it was either rebuilt or widened some time after 1836. The fact that the voussoirs are rough fieldstone on one side and dressed granite on the other suggests widening, probably in the later 1800s.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/30/1 OS map, Down sh 30, 1834
2 ‘OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Down IV’ ed. Angélique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1992), p.89
2 PRONI OS/6/3/30/2 OS map, Down sh 30, 1858

Secondary sources
1 Peter O’Keefe and Tom Simington ‘Irish stone bridges: History and heritage’ (Irish Academic Press 1991)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
H+. Alterations enhancing the building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Small, single arch, rubble built road bridge of possible part pre, part post 1834 construction, carrying the Raleagh Road over the Ballynahinch River. Of special interest for its age, style, proprtion, detail, and character. Its extension to one side adds interest.