Clonachullion Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single arched, hump-backed bridge of probable pre 1834 construction, which carries the Trassey Road at right angle over the Shimna River (producing an awkward kink in the road itself). The bridge is located 4 miles W of Newcastle, to the E of the Trassey valley.

The bridge is rubble-built with rough voussoirs to the semicircular arch. The underside of the arch is now cement rendered. The parapets are splayed at both N and S ends and have flat stone coping (mainly granite). To the W side the bridge is buttressed. The road is covered in Tarmac.

Historical information

A bridge is shown on this site on the OS maps of 1834 and 1859, and marked ‘Clonachullion Bridge’ on the latter. Given its awkward positioning in relation to the road and the hump back, it is probable that the structure is largely of pre 1834 construction.

References- primary sources
1 PRONI OS/1/3/49 OS maps 1st ed. 1834, Co Down sheets 49
2 PRONI OS/6/3/49/3 OS maps 1st rev.1859, Co Down sheet 49

Secondary sources
1 Peter O’Keefe and Tom Simington, ‘Irish Stone bridges’ (Irish Academic Press 1991)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Rubble-built, single arched hump-backed bridge of probable pre 1834 construction, which carries the Trassey Road at a right angle over the Shimna River (producing an awkward kink in the road itself).