Survey Data
Reg No
13400908
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Original Use
Bridge
In Use As
Bridge
Date
1840 - 1880
Coordinates
218119, 279388
Date Recorded
09/08/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Single-arch road bridge over the Camlin River, built c. 1860. Constructed of coursed rock-faced limestone with rounded dressed limestone coping over parapet walls. Terminating piers to either side of arch having splayed bases and with dressed limestone coping over. Dressed limestone string courses to base of piers. Segmental-headed arch with rock-faced limestone voussoirs. Squared coursed dressed limestone to barrel and abutments. Bridge largely overgrown with ivy. Located to the west of Ballinalee, pump house and flight of steps adjacent to the southwest. Rubble stone wing walls to either side (north and south); portion of northwest wing wall rebuilt
Appraisal
A robustly-built small-scale bridge, of mid nineteenth-century appearance, which is a pleasing feature in the rural landscape of County Longford. This bridge shows evidence of highly skilled craftsmanship in its stonemasonry. The good quality heavily rock-faced masonry is a typical feature of the many bridges built throughout Ireland by the Board of Works/Office of Public Works during the mid-to-late nineteenth century, and particularly between c. 1847 - 60, suggesting that they may have been responsible for its construction. This bridge is similar in form to a number of other bridges over the Camlin River and its tributaries in the area, including a bridge at Aghaboy (13400907) to the east, which suggests that it was built as part of a general drainage and/or bridge building programme. The present structure replaced an earlier bridge at this site (Ordnance Survey first edition six-inch map 1838), which indicates that this has been a crossing point of the Camlin River for a considerable period. The rubble stone wing walls to either side probably contain fabric from this earlier bridge.