Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Railway overbridge (to The Commons)
Donaghadee, Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade B2
- Grade
- B2
- Type
- Bridge
- Date of listing
- 25 February 2005
- Date of construction
- 1840 - 1859
- Address
- Railway overbridge (to The Commons), (off Millisle Road), Donaghadee, Co Down
- Townland
- Donaghadee
- Council
- Ards and North Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.63600, -5.53160
- Date of survey
- 08 May 1998
- HB reference
- HB24/07/027
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 3 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1831 "Scotland southern." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Situated to the E of the Millisle Road and giving access from a lane at the rear of houses to The Commons, this footbridge was originally built to span a former railway line.
The bridge is constructed in random rubble with sandstone dressings to the elliptical arch and a (chamfered) coping to parapets. There is also a sandstone course to each side above the arch. Voussoirs are rock faced. Brick intrados. Concrete posts have been inserted into the parapet with wire ‘fencing’ between each post. The bridge has a slight hog back and the walkway is now tarmaced. Sections of the sides of the bridge are now covered in greenery.
Historical information
This bridge was probably constructed c.1859-60, in time for the opening of the Donaghadee Branch of the Belfast and Co. Down Railway in 1861. The line was closed in 1950 but the cuttings remain and the bridge is still necessary as a pedestrian link.
References- Primary sources.
1. PRONI OS Maps 1st rev 1858-60, Co. Down 3.
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
Criteria for listing: historic interest
X. Local Interest
Evaluation
Unusually substantial pedestrian overbridge over a former railway line.
Nearby in the register
- 105-131 Millisle RoadHouse - Terraceunder 1 mi
- Mount Royal HouseHouseunder 1 mi
- 24 Killaughey RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- 48-58 Killaughey RoadHouse - Terraceunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.