Roe Road Bridge, Catherine Street, Limavady, Co Londonderry

Roe Road Bridge

A fine example of early bridge construction and extension work spanning the River Roe at the western approach to Limavady. The bridge dates from around 1700 and was substantially widened in 1828, with later repairs to its eastern arch. The listing encompasses the entire bridge structure including curtain and parapet walls, abutments, and an access laneway with boundary wall on the western downstream side.

The bridge comprises six arches of varying spans. The four eastern arches are wider and higher than the two western arches, which accommodate flood waters only and are now heavily silted. The river flows principally through three arches, with the easternmost arch serving primarily as a drainage channel. The arch spans, commencing from the west, measure 20 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet, 30 feet, 37 feet, and 31 feet respectively.

The arches are constructed from long schist voissoirs with irregular profiles, lending vernacular charm to the structure. The original 1700 construction was widened in 1828 at a cost of 4,000 pounds, increasing the overall width from approximately five metres to eight and a half metres. The construction joint between the early and later work remains clearly visible, with the undersides of the sections not aligning precisely. The older section retains corbel stones that supported the formwork during arch construction.

The curtain walls, averaging 3 feet in height and 18 inches thick, dominate the arches and extend considerably along the road on the western side. They are studded with the caps of restraining tie rods. The stonework is predominantly random rubble in iron-stained schist, while the parapet walls are of basalt with rounded sandstone copings secured with wrought iron, though many cramps are now missing.

The downstream side of the eastern arch was rebuilt around the 1960s entirely in basalt, with neatly executed sandstone voissoirs that contrast with the vernacular quality of the earlier arches. This section has also been concreted around its base.

The breakwaters are triangular on the downstream side and semi-circular with rounded tops on the upstream side. Recessed panels were left above the upstream breakwaters to accommodate the flanges of tie rods. At the central downstream breakwater, a flattish stone buttress extends upward to approximately two metres above the arch line.

The bridge's dramatic setting is enhanced by the steep eastern bank of the River Roe and the significant elevation of the carriageway to meet Catherine Street, creating an entrance to the town reminiscent of a medieval castle approach. At the western end on the downstream side, an access laneway with boundary wall further enhances the bridge's visual presence.