Clady Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A triple-arched masonry bridge carrying the road between Carmavy and Lyles Hill over the Clady Water.

Built of basalt rubble with rough stone voussoirs to graded segmental arches. Piers are faced with triangular cutwaters on each face. Copings are of rough stones laid flat and oversailing on outer faces.
Recessed arch and spandrel panel.
Carriageway flat, with grassy verges. Long approach walls at east end, with two small stone stiles let down into parapet and approach wall on south side, and one large later opening on north side where the partly rebuilt parapet terminates in a large square pier with basalt rock copings, but the termination of the approach wall at the other side of the gateway to the bank is missing some stones.

SETTING: The bridge stands in a very rural area with grassy banks surrounded by trees and scrub; short length of basalt fieldstone retaining wall to bank on south side at east end.

Historical information

Precise date of bridge not known but it appears on the OS map of 1832-3, although not named; named by the map of 1857. This bridge was previously listed and then delisted.

References – Primary Sources
1. OS Map 1832-3, Co Antrim 55 (not named).
2. OS Map 1857, Co Antrim 55 (named).
Secondary Sources
1. IHR 7297.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is a well proportioned example of a late 18th or early 19th century masonry bridge of robust construction which retains its original features on both faces and stands in a virtually unspoiled rural setting.