Wallace’s Bridge, The Burn Road, Magherascouse, Comber, BT23 5NL

The site of Wallace’s Bridge, formerly crossing the River Blackwater, is located on The Burn Road approximately one mile west of Ballygowan and 2.5 miles south of Comber. The original bridge, likely constructed before 1834, was a hump-backed road bridge built of rubble. It featured a flat segmental arch set at an angle to the road and possessed a slight upward curve to its parapets. The eastern abutment was curved, and the roadway joined at the northwest corner. The base of the bridge, at the waterline, was reinforced with stone and concrete. A first survey in January 1972 described the bridge as being in fair condition. Wallace’s Bridge was marked on Ordnance Survey maps from 1834 and 1858-60. The bridge was demolished around 1974 and replaced with a modern concrete bridge featuring a square arch. The site retains industrial archaeological interest.