Deerpark Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A seven-arched masonry bridge running approximately east to west, carrying an estate road over the River Main within Shane's Castle Park.

Built of random rubble basalt with rough stone voussoirs to the segmental arches. Of hump-backed form, with arches reduced towards ends. Piers have on both faces triangular cutwaters. On south face the parapet projects slightly on a slate course for the first four arches from the right, as far as the mid point of the central one. On the north face a slight offset is visible where the abutment angles back toward the river bank.
Parapets have squared basalt rubble to inner faces, with copings of rhyolite, splayed to both sides on top. Parapets formerly surmounted by metal railings, now gone, with sockets now filled with cement. Parapets terminate at each end in square piers, of regularly coursed squared basalt rubble with splayed caps of rhyolite, at the east end, and of squared basalt rubble with caps of concrete at the west end. Rough tarmac carriageway, with some grass to verges.

SETTING: The bridge is situated in a very rural area within a country-house demesne, with grassy banks surrounded by bushes and trees.

Historical information

Built by the O'Neill family of Shane's Castle to carry an estate road over the River Main. Precise date of building not known but it appears on the OS map of 1829 & 32, and is probably of late 18th century date.

References – Primary Sources
1. OS Map 1829 & 32, Co Antrim 49 (but not named).
2. OS Map 1858, Co Antrim 49 (named).
3. Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Vol 19: Parishes of County Antrim VI, 1830, 1833, 1835-8 (Belfast, 1993), p 50.

Secondary Sources
1. IHR 7166.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a nicely proportioned late 18th century bridge of robust construction which enjoys an unspoiled rural setting within a well wooded demesne. Has group value with the other listed buildings on the estate.

General comments

This record was originally numbered as HB20/04/047.