Buttevant Old Bridge

Low, hump-backed road bridge (long axis E-W) over River Awbeg, at NE end of Buttevant, carrying former main road from Cork to Limerick (O'Keeffe and Simington 1991, 144). Bridge in two sections, the earlier on the downriver (S) side. Piers built directly on bedrock; footings now protected by concrete aprons. Downriver side (Wth 4.55m) has four pointed segmental arches, with roughly-cut limestone voussoirs; span of arches slightly increases from E to W: 2.6m->3.5m; piers are c. 3m wide (ibid., fig. 223). Second arch from W end is noticeably higher and has a drop arch (ibid., 143); distortion of profile on E side probably caused by movement of stones when centring removed. Bridge has been widened on upstream side by c. 2.1m: segmental arches with well-cut voussoirs; thickly pointed cutwaters. According to O'Keeffe and Simington (ibid., 144) the earlier section 'can confidently be assigned to the 13th century'- they therefore consider it 'a landmark bridge in the national context' (ibid.). Thomas (1992, vol. 2, 29) suggests it may have been within northern extension of medieval town walls (14632). It is shown on Down Survey (1655-6) barony map . The extension was probably built by the turnpike trust, sometime between 1730 and 1800 (ibid.). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009