Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This skew arched bridge carries the Gransha Road over the Newtownards-Donaghadee section of the former Belfast & Co Down Railway.

The abutments, spandrels and parapets of this bridge are of random rubble blackstone embellished with sandstone dressings; the arch soffit is of brick.

The abutments are edged with rock-faced and margined sandstone block quoins. A similarly detailed chamfered string course runs through the arch at spring level and around the quoins. The arch is of semi-elliptical profile, with similarly detailed, vee-jointed sandstone voussoirs. Although the arch is skewed, the soffit’s brickwork is laid orthogonally. A curved string course identical to that through the arch runs across the arch crown to delineate the bottoms of the parapets. There are also shallow abutments to each side, with rock-faced/margined quoins. The SE abutment is now obscured by a concrete revetment along the N side of a yard belonging to an adjacent house.

The parapets have a slightly curved profile matching that of the string courses. They are coped with vermiculated sandstone blocks, chamfered and oversailing to their outsides. Some delamination of these blocks has occurred, particularly along the E parapet, resulting in partial stepping of their top surfaces. The slightly humped deck carries a two-lane carriageway with a footpath along each side.

Setting

The bridge is set in agricultural land with small fields and hedgerows. The shallow former single-track railway cutting is now waterlogged and partly infilled at each end of the bridge with rubbish.

Walling: random rubble

Historical information

Although the bridge is shown on some versions of the 1858 OS six-inch map, the original plate with this date was subsequently re-engraved to show the new line; unfortunately the updated plate was not re-dated. The bridge is, however, correctly depicted on all subsequent map editions up to the present day.

The Newtownards-Donaghadee line, on which this bridge is located, was opened by the Belfast & County Down Railway Company (BCDR) on 3 June 1861, some 11 years after the opening of its Belfast-Newtownards service. At that time Donaghadee Harbour was being constructed by the Government as a terminus of a proposed Royal Mail steamer service across the North Channel to Portpatrick. Although the harbour was completed in 1863, the intended packet boat service never materialised, so traffic on this branch never lived up to the BCDR’s expectations. This line was served by several stations, the closest to this bridge being Ballygrainey, a short distance east on the Groomsport Road (where, incidentally, there is an identical bridge).

The bridge was probably erected in 1860, construction work having started on the line in October 1859. In anticipation of cross-channel traffic, it was built with the intention of eventually accommodating a double track. In the event, however, a single track sufficed throughout the line’s entire life. The BCDR’s Engineer at that time was Sir John Macneill, and he is probably the bridge’s architect.

The BCDR was nationalised and became part of the Ulster Transport Authority in 1948. In a programme of rationalisation the entire Belfast-Donaghadee line was closed by the UTA on 24 April 1950. However, the bridge still continues to serve road traffic over the defunct line.

References – Primary sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/3/2/2. Second edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 2 (1858).

References – Secondary sources:
1. S. Johnson (1997), Johnson’s Atlas & Gazetteer of the Railways of Ireland, pp 110-111 (Leicester: Midland Publishing).
2. W.A. McCutcheon (1980), The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland, pp 143-144 (Belfast: HMSO).
3. E.M. Patterson (1982), The Belfast & Co Down Railway, pp 9-10 (Newton Abbot: David & Charles).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This single-arch road-over-railway bridge was built by the Belfast & Co Down Railway Co in 1860. Although of relatively modest scale, the use of contrasting materials (blackstone and lighter sandstone) and the high quality of the sandstone finish is of interest and typical of the quality of even quite utilitarian bridges built by the railway companies in the later 19th century. The combination of skew masonry voussoirs and orthogonal brick soffit is of note. The bridge is also of historical interest as a reminder of the former Donaghadee railway. With its slender proportions and notably thin deck, it is a good example of the type surviving in its original state.