Corratavey Bridge, Ballypatrick Tl, Glenshesk, Ballymoney, Co.Antrim

A masonry road bridge of 1834 over a stream on the Cushendall - Ballycastle section of the A2 road. The bridge is of random rubble blackstone, brought to courses. Its abutments are embellished with margined rock-faced sandstone quoins. Both faces have out-curving tapered random rubble blackstone buttresses, with margined rock-faced quoins. The arch is of semicircular profile and embellished with rock-faced, vee-jointed sandstone voussoirs. Its soffit is of squared random rubble. A small modern information plaque is affixed to the downstream left-bank quoin. A D-profile sandstone string course runs across the face of bridge at the base of the parapet on both sides, just above arch crown level. The stream has been modified where it flows under the arch. Its bed is now pitched with hexagonal basalt slabs to form a ford for vehicles and the left bank has been built up to form a narrow footpath. Most of the flow is now culverted underground and emerges from a circular concrete pipe in a waterfall a short distance downstream. The parapets are of roughly-dressed random sandstone blocks (with identical copings). Set into the middle of the downstream (NE) parapet is an inscribed stone reading: "Coretavy''. The stone below it reads ''Villiam Bald Engineer''. The stonework above the first inscription and below the second one is slight advanced to emphasise the legend. However, the crispness of the letters suggests that the stones may have been recut or even replaced. Short rubble masonry approach walls continue beyond the parapets at both ends. The original rubble masonry copings survive at NW but those at the SE end have been replaced with concrete. Setting: This bridge lies on the main road to the SE of Altheela Bridge (HB05/04/002) in Ballypatrick Forest. The ford and footpath under the arch form part of the road network within the public forest park. Immediately upstream from the bridge, on the left (N) bank is a grass/tarmaced area with picnic tables. Materials: Walling Random rubble blackstone Dressings Sandstone