Ballygowan Bridge, The Square, Ballygowan, Co. Down, BT23 6HA

The Ballygowan Bridge is a road bridge spanning the Ballygowan River in the centre of the village of Ballygowan, dating to a probable origin before 1834, with construction likely occurring between 1820 and 1839. The bridge is of industrial archaeological interest.

The north-western face of the bridge appears largely original, built of random basalt rubble with two small segmental arches and a central cutwater. A basalt rubble 'bank' borders the river on the north side at this point, and a matching rubble parapet is present. The south-eastern face has been reconstructed, almost certainly due to recent road widening. This rebuilt section features a curving, coursed rubble parapet and two modern square concrete arches. The road surface above the bridge is tarmacked.

The original, slightly narrower version of the bridge is depicted on Ordnance Survey maps from 1834 and 1858, and also appears on Taylor’s and Skinner’s map of 1777. The road widening necessitated the reconstruction of the south-eastern face. Historical records from 1811 mention a Patrick Miskelly being wanted in connection to the murder of a William Skilling at Ballygowan Bridge. The bridge is owned by central government.