Survey Data
Reg No
11808013
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Scientific, Social, Technical
Original Use
Bridge
In Use As
Bridge
Date
1860 - 1865
Coordinates
287971, 227045
Date Recorded
02/05/2002
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Three-arch bridge over river, dated 1864. Rock faced limestone ashlar walls between margined rock faced limestone ashlar piers with cut-limestone stringcourses supporting parapets having rock faced cut-limestone rounded coping centred on benchmark-inscribed drag edged cut-limestone date stone ("1864"). Series of three elliptical arches on rock faced limestone ashlar rounded cutwaters having domed capping with margined rock faced limestone ashlar voussoirs. Sited spanning River Liffey with unkempt banks to river.
Appraisal
A bridge erected to designs by John Yeats (1808-65), County Surveyor for County Kildare (appointed 1836), representing an important component of the mid nineteenth-century civil engineering heritage of County Kildare with the architectural value of the composition confirmed not only by the robust rock faced surface finish demonstrating good quality workmanship, but also by the elegant "sweep" of the arches making a pleasing visual statement at a crossing over the River Liffey: meanwhile, a benchmark remains of additional interest for the connections with cartography and the preparation of maps by the Ordnance Survey (established 1824).