Kells Br.

Crossing the Kings River N of the village of Kells and c. 60m N of the motte and bailey (KK027-029001-). A bridge is depicted at this location on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Kells, Co. Kilkenny (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). The roughly coursed limestone bridge (L c. 60m) runs NNE-SSW, with the upstream side to the W. The present bridge is clearly a two-phase construction. This earlier phase is to the W and consists of 8 round-headed arches with a further flood arch to the S. The bridge was widened in the 18th century, with three large elliptical-headed arches overlapping the central arches of the earlier bridge, while the two outer arches are flush with the original arches. The voussoirs of the earlier bridge are roughly cut but are all similar in size while those on the later upstream side are well cut and have a projecting keystone. There are cut waters between each of the upstream arches, up to springing level of the arches. The S end of this side of the bridge, within the field, is supported by three large buttresses. There are less substantial pyramidal buttresses on the downstream piers. The early phase has been dated to c. 1725 and the rebuild to c. 1775 (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage; http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=KK&regno=12315002; viewed 16 November 2017). The present earlier phase of the bridge may incorporate masonry from the bridge depicted here in the 17th century. See attached: KK027-029013-_01 extract from Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Kells, Co. Kilkenny (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 16 November 2017