Finvey Bridge, Killyneedan Road, Cookstown

This is a modest, early 19th century rustic road bridge, retaining its original, unaltered condition. It is a very good example of its type, demonstrating pleasing proportions and representing a notable survival. The bridge, built around 1820, carries the Killyneedan Road over the Rock River, and is orientated roughly northeast-southwest. It consists of two semicircular-headed arches constructed with cut-stone voussoirs. The walls of the bridge are rock-faced squared stone with cut-stone capping. The arch soffits are smooth render, with a coursed cut-stone base. A splayed cut-stone cutwater is positioned between the arches on the upstream side. The Killyneedan Road is approximately 8 metres wide where it crosses the bridge. The bridge spans the Rock River within the rural townland of Killyneedan, south of Cookstown. The site is situated within open countryside, surrounded by gently rolling hills. A bridge is depicted on OS maps from 1833-34, and subsequently on all later maps. It is first labelled 'Finvey Bridge' on the revised OS map of 1854-57. The appearance of the bridge, with its hump-backed, double-arch design, suggests it was constructed before 1833. The structure possesses industrial archaeological interest.