Bridge to rear of

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-span road bridge, built c. 1790, carrying private road in Castle Dobbs estate over Kilroot River. Granite abutments, coursed basalt rubble spandrels and parapets, sandstone pillars and rounded saddle-back coping to parapet. Three round-headed arches with rubble stone voussoirs. Arch soffits are of random rubble. The carriageway is approximately 4m wide with recent tarmac surface. Weir directly to north; curved falls; cast-iron mechanism fixed to north elevation.

The bridge is set in a private estate, on main route from north entrance with Castle Dobbs (HB22/13/001A) to the south-east. Mature gardens in surrounding context.

Roof N/A
Walling Coursed basalt rubble
Windows N/A
RWG N/A

Historical information

The demesne of Castle Dobbs was established in the sixteenth century, with the present house (HB22/13/001A) dating to c.1730. The bridge is thought to have been built c.1790 as part of the development of the demesne into a landscape park. The Townland Valuation of 1836 records a dwelling house and offices, owned and occupied by Richard Dobbs Esq. The building is valued at £ 46 14s, later revised to £53.

Griffith’s Valuation of 1859 lists a house, office, gate lodge and land, initially valued at £45, later revised to £12 5s. An accompanying note states “the old farm lot & offices have been pulled down & the new ones built…the amount in the old book to be altered”.

Valuation Revisions from the 1870s record the occupier as Conway Dobbs, held ‘in fee’. The valuation is £120, revised in 1878 to £128. In 1886 the occupier changes to Montague Dobbs. In 1904 the gate lodge entry is crossed out and changed to [S] house. It is at this time that a ‘gardeners house’ is entered in the description. A note reads ‘gate lodge deducted in 1904’; the lodge can be found entered separately below, occupied by William Snoddy, and valued at £3.

A smaller house is also annexed from the main estate valuation at this time, occupied by Jacob Johnston, leased from M.W. Dobbs, valued at £2 10s. It is not clear which building this refers to, although it may be the smaller lodge.

In 1914 the entry for ‘Castle Dobbs’ lists a house, office, steward’s house, gardener’s house and land. The building valuation is £125, and the gate lodge is recorded as occupied by Johanna Holt, and then by John Bowes in 1915.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/53/1 - First Edition OS Map (1831-2)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/53/2 - Second Edition OS Map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/53/3 - Third Edition OS Map (1901-2)
4. PRONI VAL/1/A/ 1/53 - Townland Valuation Map (1836)
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/119 - Townland Valuation Fieldbook (1836)
6. PRONI VAL/2B/1/16 - Griffiths Valuation Fieldbook (1859)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/7/18 A-F - Valuation Revisions (1864-1929)

Secondary Sources

1. Brett, C[harles] E. B. “Buildings of County Antrim.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1996.
2. Young, Robert Magill. “Belfast and the Province of Ulster in the Twentieth Century.” Pike's New Century Series, ed. W. T. Pike. Brighton : W. T. Pike, 1909.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-span road bridge, built c. 1790, carrying a private road in Castle Dobbs estate over the Kilroot River. This attractive bridge remains intact and well-preserved. It is well proportioned, and the design is enlivened by decorative stone detailing. The bridge is set within a picturesque rural estate, enhanced by the weir falls and pond to north.

General comments

This record has been renumbered as part of a group - previously included in HB22/13/001.