Regent Bridge, Banbidge Road, Dromore, Co Down, BT25

Regent Bridge is a triple-arched masonry road bridge built in 1811 over the River Lagan at the west end of Dromore, County Down. It stands on one of the main streets in the town, with various buildings to north and south.

The bridge is constructed of random rubble blackstone with cement-rendered abutments and piers. The upstream piers feature angled cutwaters built of regularly coursed granite blocks rising to arch crown level. All three arches are segmental in span, with the central arch wider and slightly higher than the two end arches. All arches have dressed granite voussoirs. Small carriageway drainage holes are positioned above each pier on the downstream face. The parapets are coped with roughly-dressed flattish granite blocks and have no terminal piers.

A limestone plaque set into the middle of the downstream parapet (framed with dressed granite) records the bridge's construction: "Regent Bridge / built / in the 30th year of the / residence in his See / of the Right Reverend / Thomas Percy DD / Lord Bishop of Dromore / to whom / this memorial of their respect / is inscribed by the / inhabitants of the town / of Dromore / AD 1811". The bridge displays remnants of 20th-century steel lamp brackets along both parapets. The north end of the upstream parapet has been truncated to provide access to a balcony along the river frontage of an adjacent house. A footpath beyond the southeast end of the bridge gives access to a riverside walk downstream. The deck carries a two-lane road with footpaths running along both sides.

The bridge represents well-executed design typical of bridge construction of its period, with relatively plain construction. Some overgrowth, including a tree, appears on the upstream face.

The bridge superseded a narrow mid-18th century bridge a short distance upstream and caused the realignment of the main Belfast-Dublin road. It was undoubtedly named after the Prince Regent (later King George IV), who became Prince Regent on 5 February 1811 following his father's illness. Bishop Thomas Percy, for whom the bridge commemorates 30 years in his See, became Bishop of Dromore in 1782 and was responsible for rebuilding the adjoining cathedral's tower and north transept. He died on 30 September 1811. The bridge cost £434 to build, apparently met by public subscription. According to the 1837 Ordnance Survey Memoir, the bridge measures 75 feet long and 35 feet broad and was built of whinstone and granite. It has appeared on Ordnance Survey maps from 1833 onwards and is captioned 'Regent Bridge' from 1903 onwards. The bridge was superseded in 1972 as the main crossing point over the Lagan by a reinforced-concrete bridge on the bypass west of the town.

At the northwest end, within the grounds of Dromore Cathedral, stands Dromore High Cross, re-erected there in 1887. A modern interpretative plaque is located nearby.