Survey Data
Reg No
11816004
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Social, Technical
Original Use
Aqueduct
In Use As
Aqueduct
Date
1820 - 1830
Coordinates
262347, 210635
Date Recorded
29/05/2002
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Three-arch rubble stone canal aqueduct over river, c.1825, with semi-circular cut-waters/piers, cut-stone voussoirs and moulded cornice, and cut-stone curved flanking walls to east and to west. Coursed rubble stone walls with piers to ends to east and to west having panels over. Plain frieze with modillion cornice over. Cut-stone semi-circular cut-waters to piers. Sections of iron railings to parapet (possibly replacement). Three shallow segmental arches. Weathered cut-stone voussoirs. Rubble stone soffits with render over. Sited spanning River Barrow with grass banks to river.
Appraisal
Monasterevin Aqueduct is a fine and imposing structure built as part of the Grand Canal (Athy Branch) development, forming an attractive feature on the River Barrow, and is one of a group of bridges on the section of that river that passes through County Kildare. The construction of the spans, which have retained their original shape, is of technical and engineering merit. The bridge exhibits good quality stone masonry and fine, crisp joints, particularly to the piers and cornice, which is a good example of the high quality of stone masonry practised in the locality. The bridge is of considerable historical and social significance as a reminder of the canal network development in Ireland, which brought about many technical advances and developed commercial and industrial activity in the early to mid nineteenth century.