Archway, Fountain St., Bessbrook, Co.Armagh

Archway, Fountain Street, Bessbrook, County Armagh

A single pointed arch with castellations and granite dressings, built around 1912 to designs by Herbert Dowell, a mechanical engineer at Bessbrook Mill. The archway is located between Nos. 60 and 61 Fountain Street and spans a tarmaced path known as Park Lane, which leads from Fountain Street towards Bessbrook Mill to the southeast. The path now provides additional pedestrian access to the rear of houses along Fountain Street.

The principal elevation faces northwest onto Fountain Street and consists of a pointed arch with panelled smooth dressed granite abutments and moulded projecting springers. The spandrels have a painted rough cast finish, and castellated walling rises above with splayed coping. A dressed granite keystone displays 'PARK LANE 1912'. The inner surface of the arch has a painted smooth render finish with moulded panels, and a painted smooth render band runs along the voussoirs. Two painted metal gates are hung on the abutments, stamped with a Dublin maker's mark. These gates are composed of vertical irons with spearhead finials at the top and impost level, with tighter grouping of irons from ground to impost level. The gate design mirrors the curve of the arch, with a lock featuring scrollwork to top and bottom. A second set of modern galvanized metal gates is located along the tarmaced path to the southeast.

To the northeast, the arch is attached to No. 60 Fountain Street. The gable of this building has a painted textured render finish and displays a rectangular polished white marble plaque with a lengthy inscription recording that Park Lane was constructed in 1912 in loving memory of Sophy Richardson by her husband. The inscription notes that she came to Bessbrook as a bride in 1867, was welcomed by the people, became much attached to the community, and lived among them for about sixteen years. Though never strong in health, she sympathised greatly with women workers, and the passage was created as a memorial to her.

To the southwest, the arch is attached to No. 61 Fountain Street. The gable of this building has a painted smooth render finish and displays a rectangular polished white marble plaque recording the names of those involved in the construction: Herbert Dowell (A.M.I.M.E., the designer), John Jackson (head mason), William Magowan (head carpenter), William Jackson (mason), John McCann (mason), James McCann (mason), and George Morrison (machinist).

The rear elevation faces southeast and consists of a pointed arch with panelled dressed granite abutments, moulded projecting springers, and a painted rough cast finish to the spandrels. Castellated walling with splayed coping rises above. A dressed granite keystone and painted smooth render band to the voussoirs match the front elevation.

The archway and Park Lane are located within the Bessbrook Conservation Area. The materials consist of painted rough cast finish with granite dressings throughout.