Gilford Bridge, Bridge Street, Gilford, Craigavon, Co Down, BT63

Gilford Bridge comprises three arched masonry spans over the River Bann and a further 17 smaller flood arches along its eastern approach road. The bridge is of random rubble blackstone construction. Good quality dressed granite embellishes the abutment and pier quoins, up and downstream angled cutwaters (which rise to arch spring level), and segmental arch voussoirs (with raised keystones). In addition, there are half-attached urn motifs set into the spandrels just above the cutwaters on both sides. The arch soffits are of random rubble. However, there are clear breaks on their up- and downstream sides, indicating that the bridge was widened along both sides. The SE end has also been widened, the repositioned parapet being carried on a diagonally-set steel beam. The parapet is coped with granite blocks. The carriageway carries two traffic lanes and a footpath on its downstream (N) side. On the S face of the SE approach wall to the bridge are 17 small semicircular flood arches, each of c.90cm span and all now infilled with random rubble. At the E end of this approach wall is a pair of wrought-iron gates hung from square piers, beyond which the road is carried over a shallow segmental arch over a mill race. This arch has dressed quoins and voussoirs, and a gunited soffit. The NE approach wall, which is slightly advanced from the face of the bridge, has been rebuilt in random rubble and the mill race culverted on this side, so there is now no indication of any arches. However, the original granite copings have been reutilized in the rebuilt wall. Setting: Gilford Bridge spans the River Bann to the south of Gilford. Multiple small flood arches along its eastern approach road with mill race beyond; car park adjacent to north; two storey public house to east with rough grassland flood plain and tree lined banks to south. Roof: N/A Walling: Stone Windows: N/A RWG: N/A