Coleraine Bridge

The crossing at Coleraine has existed since at least the thirteenth century. The earliest recorded bridge at the site was constructed in 1248 by John de Courcy in the vicinity of Coleraine Castle. Raven's map of 1620 depicts a timber bridge at the location. This structure is shown on Taylor and Skinner's 1783 map and is shown on early nineteenth-century Ordnance Survey maps. The present bridge was completed in 1844 at a cost of £14,650, funded by the County Londonderry Grand Jury. It was designed by Stewart Gordon, County Surveyor for County Londonderry between 1834 and 1860, and constructed by John Lynn, a Coleraine-based contractor. During the Second World War, a demolition chamber was…

Coleraine Bridge is a triple-span masonry bridge carrying the main road across the River Bann. With the exception of the soffits, the structure is constructed of ashlar granite imported from Scotland. The soffits of the arches are of dressed sandstone, distinguished by their lighter colour. The bridge comprises three equi-sized shallow segmental arches with vee-jointed voussoirs. Advanced abutments and piers incorporate cutwaters rising to spring level on both the upstream and downstream sides. Moulded string courses run through the arches at spring level and around the tops of the piers, with an additional moulded string course forming the base of the parapets. The parapets project…