Altheela Bridge Ballypatrick, Co.Antrim

A skew-arched masonry road bridge of 1834 over a minor stream on the Cushendall - Ballycastle section of the A2 road. The bridge is constructed in squared rubble mica schist brought to courses; in plan it is built to a slight curve. Its abutments, which are set at a slight angle to the face of the bridge, are embellished with rock-faced and margined sandstone quoins. The bed of the stream is pitched with stone to minimise scouring. The arch is of semicircular profile and also accentuated with margined sandstone voussoirs. The faces on both sides of the arch are reinforced with shallow buttresses, which sweep down and away from the bridge. Unusually, their inner ends also curve inwards in the direction of the arch. The edge formed where the two curved surfaces meet is picked out in dressed sandstone. A sandstone string course of half-circle profile also runs across the bridge just above the crown of the arch. The low parapets are coped with sloping sandstone blocks, with slightly raised square blocks at each end. Embedded in the road face of the downstream (E) parapet is a reconstituted stone plaque which reads 'Altheela/ Bridge". A short section of parapet coping immediately above this plaque has been replaced with cast concrete. Short rubble masonry approach walls continue beyond the bridge parapets. Their original copings have also been replaced with cast concrete. Setting: This bridge lies between Corratavey Bridge (HB05/04/001) to the south and Bush Burn Bridge (HB05/04/003) to the north. Its surrounding landscape was originally open moorland but this has since been planted by Forestry Service with conifers. Materials: Walling Rubble mica schist Dressings Sandstone