Dowra Bridge

Triple-arch stone bridge, built c.1860, spanning east-west over the River Shannon, with smaller dry arch to west end, gently sloped west bank, and steeply sloped east bank. Rock-faced abutments and piers having V-cutwaters to central piers on both elevations with sloped and stepped ashlar caps over continuous ashlar impost course. Segmental main arches with punched ashlar soffit and raised stepped V-jointed voussoirs with keystone, battered and tapered buttresses to either end of three-arched section spanning river. Smaller round dry arch with rubble stone soffit and similar voussoirs. Coursed roughly punched ashlar spandrel and parapet walls with dressed margins. Platband surmounting keystones, coursed rock-faced spandrel to embankment wing walls. Coping of larger projecting finely punched sandstone cap-stones.

Said to have been built with stone taken from the demolition of the old Carrick Gaol, the bridge is a prominent and relatively intact mid nineteenth century structure in Dowra. It is a good example of the larger Board of Works bridges, with its variety of architectural details and finishes, and is reprentative of the high quality civil engineering works undertaken throughout the country in this period. It makes an important contribution to the architectural identity and landscape of Dowra.