Former railway bridge, off Cotton Road, Cotton, Donaghadee, Co Down

The structure is a disused, rubble-constructed single span bridge dating from approximately 1859-60. It was originally built to carry a road over the Belfast & Co Down Railway, specifically the section between Newtownards and Donaghadee. The road has since been redirected slightly to the west of the bridge, meaning it now serves no function and stands on the edge of a field. The bridge is located a few metres south of Cotton Road, approximately 1.5 miles west of Donaghadee.

The bridge is primarily constructed of rock-faced fieldstone rubble, featuring a single elliptical arch. The arch’s voussoirs and quoins are rock-faced, v-jointed sandstone, with a brick lining to the intrados. Splayed, triangular buttresses are positioned on either side of the arch. Sandstone string courses are present at arch springing level and just above the arch. Sandstone coping defines the parapet. The eastern face of the bridge is heavily overgrown with vegetation.

The bridge was constructed between October 1859 and June 1861 as part of the Belfast & Co Down Railway’s new line, and was likely designed by the railway’s chief engineer, Sir John MacNeill, and built by his principal contractor, Patrick Moore. The railway line closed in 1950. The structure possesses industrial archaeological interest.