Footbridge and Passenger Gateway

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This metal girder footbridge is located towards the east end of the station and enables passenger access between the main and island platforms and to/from North Circular Road.
The section over the double-track main line is supported on four cast-metal columns at each end. The tops of these columns are secured to one another with curved cast-metal brackets. They are also cross-braced with diagonal rods, with a tensioning ring where they meet in the middle. The outer ends of these braces are welded to the uprights. The span over the two tracks on the N side of the island platform is supported at either end by single pairs of similarly detailed columns. The N end of the deck is level with the North Circular Road.
The deck is of concrete slabs over steel I beams set between the flanges of the bottom rails of the principal girders. Each girder, of welded steel throughout, comprises a vertical member between its top and bottom rail, with diagonal bracing strips between alternate uprights. The top rails are also secured with diagonal braces from extensions to the ends of the deck transoms. An oval metal plaque on the bridge's parapet notes it as number 283.
Staircases with similarly detailed handrails descend in a westerly direction to each platform. Their treads are of metal and concrete.
The N end of the deck exits to the North Circular Road through a gateway in the perimeter wall. There is a pair of wrought-iron gates at this end, set in a sandstone archway with chamfered jambs and segmental head. Across the outer face of the arch is carved “For railway passengers only”.
At the SE and NW ends of the span over the main line is a modern concrete, steel and glass lift tower.

Historical information

A footbridge first appears on the 1900 OS map and undoubtedly dates from the station’s reconstruction around 1880 by the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) under the direction of its Chief Engineer at that time, W.H. Mills. Its principal girders were probably of cast- and wrought-iron originally, but have been replaced with welded steel sometime during the mid-1900s. The cast-metal supporting columns are possibly original, but their later re-casting cannot be discounted.
Old photographs show the span between the platforms to have been covered with a curved corrugated metal canopy, now removed.
The two lift towers date from c.2000.

Sources – Primary
references:
1. PRONI OS/8/17/3A/5 OS Lisburn town map (1900).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
F. Structural System
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
V. Authorship

Evaluation

A late 19th century footbridge, originally constrcuted in wrought-iron, replaced with welded steel sometime during the mid-1900s. Despite alterations to the deck and modernisation to incorporate passenger lifts, the footbridge retains much of its original character and arched passenger gateway on the North Circular Road. It is of interest as an integral part of an important group of station buildings and structures within the Lisburn station complex (HB19/15/003A) and (HB19/15/003B).

General comments

Criteria R, S and T also apply.