Downshire Bridge, The Cut, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32

Downshire Bridge a single-arch stone and brick road bridge which carries the Scarva – Rathfriland road over the Cut in the centre of Banbridge. The abutments are of rock-faced blackstone embellished with ashlar granite quoins. The arch is of segmental profile and is also of granite ashlar. A dressed granite platband runs through the arch at spring level. The soffit is of purple brick, in five sections which step up by a course from north to south in line with the road. The edge of the arch on both its elevations has been painted with alternate yellow and black warning stripes. Modern height warning signs (3.5m and 11ft 6in) have been affixed to either side of the arch crown on both faces. The spandrels are of randomly sized finely dressed granite blocks with a granite string course over, at crown level. The parapets comprise replacement vertical steel railings on dwarf rubble blackstone walls coped with oversailing chamfered granite blocks. The parapet walls terminate in ashlar granite piers which project outwards from just below string course level. On the road face of the SW terminal pier is a polished granite plaque reading: “Downshire Bridge/ These tablets were inserted by the/ inhabitants of Banbridge/ to commemorate the coming of age/ of the/ sixth Marquis of Downshire/ 2nd July 1892”. On the NE pier is a second plaque reading: “Downshire Bridge/ erected AD 1834/ rebuilt 1885”. The deck carries two lines of traffic and two footpaths. The Cut is a two-lane road which rises from north to south through the arch, to emerge near the summit of the hill in the town centre. Traffic is single file directly under the bridge which crosses it halfway along. Its sides are lined with almost-vertical random rubble blackstone walls which continue up as parapets alongside the roads on either side of the cutting; these parapets are coped with dressed granite blocks. The side walls continue for a short distance at both ends as steel railings on dwarf rubble walls coped with granite flags; these are obviously later additions. The walls are secured with steel plates anchored into their sides. Setting Prominently located in the centre of Banbridge town, flanked either side by two and three storey historic and modern buildings, now predominantly of commercial use. Former town hall (HB17/06/009) and post office (HB17/06/028) immediately to the west. Roof: n/a Walling: stone Windows: n/a RWG: n/a