New Bridge, Old Bridge Road, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone

This is a five-span road bridge, likely dating from the early nineteenth century, carrying Old Bridge Road over the Derg River. It’s a substantial bridge constructed of random rubble stone, with random rubble abutments, spandrels, and parapets finished with squared rubble coping. The bridge features five segmental-headed arches built with cut stone voussoirs, flanked by semi-circular sandstone cutwaters topped with rounded capstones. The arch soffits are of rubble construction, and the carriageway is approximately 5 metres wide. Parapet walls extend beyond the bridge at both the north and south ends, forming boundary walls to the adjacent agricultural land. Some minor cement repairs have been undertaken to the parapet. Drainage channels are situated at carriageway level. A rounded datestone, bearing an illegible date of 1727 and a mason’s mark, is set within the carriageway on the western parapet. The bridge is located within an unspoiled rural setting, with a dwelling to the northwest.

Historical records indicate a bridge was present on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1833, and was subsequently named ‘New Bridge’ on later Ordnance Survey editions. Contemporary accounts refer to the bridges in the Ardstraw parish as being "good," with particular note made of those over the Derg River as part of the mail road. The segmental nature of the arches, combined with references to the bridge as 'new' in historical records, suggests it likely replaced an earlier bridge at the beginning of the nineteenth century, incorporating the datestone from the previous structure. The bridge is of industrial archaeological interest, demonstrating well-proportioned design and ornamentation, and benefits from a pleasing rural setting.