Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Masons Bridge
Raleagh, Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade B1
- Grade
- B1
- Type
- Bridge
- Date of listing
- 27 May 1980
- Date of construction
- 1820 - 1839
- Address
- Masons Bridge, Drumnaconagher Road, Drumnaconagher / Raleagh, Ballynahinch, Co Down
- Townland
- Raleagh
- Council
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.39168, -5.83640
- Date of survey
- 11 October 2000
- HB reference
- HB18/05/003
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 LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1794 "Sheet 55. (Cary's England, Wales, and Scotland)." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Small rubble built road bridge of possible pre 1834 construction, carrying the Drumnaconagher 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 are two roughly elliptical arches with with granite voussoirs and pier between. There is a cutwater to the S side. The parapet has rough rubble coping. 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 and marked ‘Masons Bridge’ on the revised map of 1858. It is possible that the structure we see today is substantially that of 1834, but it is difficult to be certain of this- the regularity of the arches could suggest that it is slightly later.
References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/30/1 OS map, Down sh 30, 1834
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
Criteria for listing: historic interest
X. Local Interest
Evaluation
Small rubble built, two arch road bridge of possible pre 1834 construction, carrying the Drumnaconagher Road over the Ballynahinch River.Of special interest for its age, style, proprtion, detail, and character.
Nearby in the register
- Yewtree HouseHouseunder 1 mi
- Site of former 108 Drumnaconagher RoadDemolishedunder 1 mi
- Mary Brook HouseHouseunder 1 mi
- CottageOutbuildingsunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.