New Bridge, Kiln Street, Fintona, Co Tyrone, BT78 2BJ

A substantial three-span bridge, built around 1860, carries Kiln Street over Quiggery Water, located to the southeast of the village of Fintona. This sandstone bridge is well-constructed and features detailed ashlar stonework, being an attractive example of mid-19th century engineering and a good representation of its type. The abutments, spandrels, and parapets are constructed from squared-and-snecked sandstone, incorporating a string course at carriageway level and semi-circular sandstone coping on the parapets. Three segmental-headed arches, built with ashlar sandstone voussoirs, are present, with V-shaped cutwaters to the piers. The arch soffits are cement rendered, and the carriageway is approximately 10 metres wide. Parapet walls are enclosed to the east and west by square pillars with pyramidal coping stones. Rubble walls with rubble coping extend westward as retaining walls, with some concrete repairs and recent rubble walling with concrete coping to the northeast. A stormwater drain is located in the riverbank to the northwest of the bridge. The bridge sits on a main road and is flanked by residential dwellings to the northwest and a golf club to the southeast. The bridge first appeared on the 1906 Ordnance Survey map, labelled ‘New Bridge’, replacing earlier stepping stones marked on the 1854 map. Historical records detail the development of coaching services in the 19th century, noting the importance of routes like the Dublin-Derry mail coach route. It is of industrial archaeological interest and demonstrates local historical importance.