ALTADREEN BRIDGE, BALLYPATRICK TL, Glenshesk, Ballymoney, CO.ANTRIM

A slightly skew 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. The arch, which is set slightly skew to the face of the bridge, is of semicircular profile and embellished with rock-faced, vee-jointed sandstone voussoirs. Both faces of the bridge have shallow tapered buttresses detailed as the abutments; those on the upstream face have a curved taper. A sandstone string course of D profile runs across the bridge at the base of the parapet, just above the crown of the arch. The bed of the stream is pitched with stones where it runs under the arch and the downstream right bank is retained with rubble stonework. The upstream parapet is coped with rock-faced, margined sandstone blocks. The copings on the downstream (NE) parapet have been replaced with concrete. The SE end of this parapet has also been rebuilt. Embedded in the road face of the downstream parapet is an original sandstone plaque reading 'Avltadreen/ 1834'. There is also a crow's foot benchmark just left of the date. Short rubble masonry approach walls continue beyond the upstream parapets. Their original copings have been replaced with concrete. Setting: This bridge lies on the main road to the NW of Bush Burn Bridge (HB05/04/003) in the middle of an area of open moorland in the midst of Ballypatrick Forest. Materials: Walling Random rubble blackstone Dressings Sandstone