Cross Hill Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A four-arched masonry bridge carrying a road running north and south over the Crumlin River. Random rubble basalt with roughly shaped basalt voussoirs to segmental arches; two central arches are wider than each end arch. Piers faced with triangular cutwaters to each side, backed by square buttresses on west side. Vaults of rubble, roughly cemented over the original lime mortar. Parapets project out very slightly over line of carriageway on outer faces; concrete copings segmental in section; parapets rise slightly to centre from end to end giving slightly hump-backed profile to outer faces of bridge but carriageway on top virtually flat. Parapets continue as field walls to both ends on the east side with inclined stone buttresses to each wall, two on north side of river, and four on south side. One buttress to south end of west face. Concrete repair work to abutment pier on north end of west face.

SETTING: The bridge is situated in a very rural area in the midst of agricultural land, with trees and bushes in the immediate vicinity, and a distant view towards the site of a ruined medieval church lying to the south west.

Historical information

Precise date of construction not known but appears on OS map of 1832-3.

References - Primary Sources
1. OS Map 1832-3, Co Antrim 59.

Secondary Sources
1. Belfast Telegraph, 8 August 1930, p 16 (photograph of the bridge with caption suggesting it to have been then around 240 years old).
2. IHR 7343.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is a well proportioned example of an early 19th century bridge of robust construction, which has had unsympathetic alterations..