Aughlish Bridge, Lower Kildress Road, Cookstown, Co Tyrone

This is a reinforced concrete road bridge, built around 1930, that demonstrates the progression of engineering in the early to mid-20th century. It spans the Ballinderry River near Cookstown, County Tyrone. The bridge is of triple-arch design, with segmental-headed arches supported by two concrete piers for the central arch and shorter piers at the ends. The underside of the bridge features four reinforced concrete ribs resting on the piers. The piers extend to the level of the road walls, capped with rectangular features, and the walls themselves have concrete panelled formwork with splayed stone capping. The bridge is of robust style and its detailing admirably expresses its function.

Historical records indicate that no bridge existed at this location prior to 1833, with the road simply ending at the riverbank. Stepping stones were marked on maps from 1857. The bridge, named ‘Aughlish Bridge’, first appears on an Ordnance Survey map from 1937. The bridge represents an early example of its type and possesses notable characteristics of industrial archaeological interest. It is of local historical interest and is considered relatively rare. The bridge is owned by central government and is situated within the townlands of Aughlish and Drumard.