MONKSTOWN BRIDGE

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Shallow segmental single-span reinforced concrete bridge, originating c1931, carrying the Monkstown road over the Belfast to Antrim railway as part of the ‘Greenisland loop’ scheme. Bridge was refurbished and strengthened in the 1990s, resulting in a virtual rebuild. Smooth concrete walls and spandrels with a projecting plinth base to the parapet. Fluted concrete parapet wall (replacement), with smooth finish to the road and smooth concrete coping. Pair of full height concrete piers (also appear to be replacement) to either end with Art Deco style stepped detailing and a vertically fluted panel to the outward faces. Bitmac road surface and pair of bitmac footpaths with concrete kerbing.

Historical information

The bridge does not appear on the OS Map of 1931, instead, the road appears to travel across or under the railway at Monkstown Station. The bridge is shown on the 1955 7th edition OS Map, carrying the road over Monkstown Halt.

Hammond writes;
"This reinforced-concrete bridge was built in 1931 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co (Northern Counties Committee) as part of its 'Greenisland Loop' scheme. This scheme involved the laying of a track between Whiteabbey, on the Belfast-Carrickfergus line (opened 1848), and Monkstown, on the Belfast-Antrim line (also 1848). Until the opening of the loop in 1934, Antrim-bound trains ran to Greencastle, then reversed all the way to Antrim. Not only did the loop do away with the need to reverse, but it also shortened the journey by some 2.5 miles. The loop scheme has been described as "one of the most significant examples of modern railway architecture in the British Isles" (W.A. McCutcheon, The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland: 214, note 174, 1980 (Belfast: HMSO). It was directed by NCC's resident engineer W.K. Wallace. Several other reinforced-concrete bridges were also erected in connection with the loop scheme: Bleach Green Junction (1931-33)(HB21/10/001A-E), Jordanstown Road (1931), Jennings Park (1931), Auld's Bridge (1933)(HB21/11/005), and Mossley (1933)(HB21/03/005). The loop line remained in regular service until 1976 when Belfast's Central Railway was opened. Antrim-bound trains were subsequently re-routed via Lisburn and Crumlin. The line is still in periodic use for goods trains, and it is intended to reopen it for passenger services once the new Central-York St. station linkup is completed."

NIEA records indicate that the bridge was virtually rebuilt in the mid 1990s, having been widened, including new parapets and new buttresses.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/52/6 - Sixth Edition OS Map (1931)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/52/7 - Seventh Edition OS Map (1955)

Secondary Sources

1. F.W. Hammond. First Survey Information 18 August 1994.
2. McCutcheon, W.A. “The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland,” London: HMSO, 1980.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A twentieth century concrete bridge of some technical interest and expressing a restrained Art Deco aesthetic. Originally built c1930 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company (Northern Ireland Committee) as part of a series of similar bridges built on the Greenisland Loop scheme. However, recent alterations have seriously compromised its original fabric and integrity and there are other, better examples of the type. It no longer meets the statutory and policy tests as a building of special architectural or historic interest.