Bridge in Ferganstown and Ballymacon

Situated on a S-N section of the River Boyne (Wth c. 70m) just before its course changes to a W-E direction. A bridge known as ‘Babe’s Bridge’ or ‘Mabe’s Bridge’ is referred to from the thirteenth century when ‘pontus Johannis le Baub’ is recorded in numerous land grants to St Thomas’ Augustinian abbey (DU018-020051-) that were witnessed by Simon de Rochford, bishop of Meath (1194-1224). Babe’s bridge was the only bridge on the River Boyne to withstand the severe flood of 1330. In 1463 it is recorded that a man called Babe had left six acres for the maintenance of the bridge but that this land had been taken into the King’s hands and the bridge was consequently in disrepair. As a result the Irish Parliament entrusted the land and the care of the bridge to the clergy of Donaghmore (ME025-015001-) and Dunmoe (ME025-018001-). It is not recorded in the Civil Survey (1655) or the on the Down Survey (1656-8) maps, so it must have been defunct by then. It may have been disused by 1550, by which time Kilcarn Bridge (ME025-039----) on the more direct R147 road from Navan to Dunshaughlin and Dublin had been built. In 1988 a single pointed segmental arch (Wth 5.2m; L 7.15m) survived on the E bank of the river which was repaired at that time. The pier is described as 15 feet by 6 feet 6 inches (dims 4.6m x 2m) with breakwaters that have pyramidal caps on both the upstream and downstream faces. Traces of at least two other piers are represented on the 1908 and the current OS maps. It is likely that the bridge dates from the thirteenth century and may have had eleven arches. (O’Keefe and Simington 1991, 115-19) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 29 March 2023 O’Keefe, P. and Simington, T. 1991 Irish Stone Bridges: history and heritage. Dublin, Irish Academic Press