Croan Bridge, Cabragh Road, Rathfriland, Newry, Co Down, BT34 2HX

This is a bridge located on the Cabragh Road, near Rathfriland, Newry, County Down. Likely built between 1780 and 1799, it is cited on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map as ‘Croan Bridge’. The bridge consists of two slightly skewed semicircular arches that carry a minor road over the Clanrye River, which appears here as a small stream. It is constructed of random rubble with finely dressed granite voussoirs, each face featuring a slightly projecting keystone. Small angled squared rubble cutwaters rise to arch spring level on each face. The parapets are coped with squared rubble. Walls to the north side continue as field boundaries, with the road positioned at a higher level. A small pipe crosses the east face. Two small, flat-headed culverts through the south approach previously served as floodwater channels but are now heavily silted. The bridge exhibits industrial archaeological interest.