Bridge by Ardilea House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Rubble built double span bridge of probable pre 1834 origin, which carries the Ardilea road over an estuary to the NW coast of Dundrum Bay. The bridge was undoubtedly built to serve the property now known as Ardilea House, which itself dates back to the 1740s.

The bridge is in fieldstone rubble and has two semicircular arches. It crosses the river at near right angles. The parapets have stone coping. A tie has been inserted into the structure and the short pier between the arches to the W face appears to have been repaired in recent years.

Historical information

This bridge was undoubtedly built to serve the building to the north now known as Ardilea House. This residence, whose original name was ‘Bellville’ was present on this site (in some form) in the 1740s, so it is likely that a bridge existed at this date. It is possible the present bridge may be a later rebuild, however, its construction and the fact that it dilerately carries the road over the estuary at a right angle, (an indicator of a lack of technical sophistication), suggests that it is probably pre 1830.

References- Primary sources
1 Walter Harris ‘The ancient and present state of the County of Down’ (Dublin 1744, reprint 1980s),
2 ‘Taylor’s and Skinner’s maps of the roads of Ireland’ (Dublin 1777)
3 Linen Hall Library ‘Belfast News-Letter’ 16th Sept. 1789
4 PRONI OS/6/3/44/1 OS map, Down sh 44, 1834
5 PRONI VAL/1B/387 1st valuation, Loughinisland, 1836
6 PRONI OS/6/3/37/2 OS map, Down sh 44, 1858
7 PRONI 2nd valuation, Loughinisland, c.1860 [in print]
8 Alexander Knox ‘History of County Down’ (Dublin 1875)
9 PRONI OS/6/3/44/3 OS map, Down sh 44, 1901

Secondary sources
1 “House of the month” in ‘Northern Life’ Sept 1982 [Magazine article concerning the renovation of Ardilea House.]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

B. Proportion
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Rubble built double span bridge of probable pre 1834 origin, which carries the Ardilea road over an estuary to the north-west coast of Dundrum Bay. The bridge was undoubtedly built to serve the property now known as Ardilea House, which itself dates back to the 1740s. It has group value with Ardilea House.