South Gate Br

Road bridge over S branch of river Lee, on site of entrance into walled town. Oldest surviving bridge in city; upriver part (c. 15ft wide) built 1713, downriver extension added 1824. Older part described by O'Keeffe and Simington (1991, 225) as having 'two relatively thin 4ft 5in. river piers. The central arch is 26ft span with a three-centred intrados. The 21ft and 23ft side arches are also three centred. The ring stones are proper wedge-shaped voussoirs.' One of the oldest surviving three-centred bridges in the country (ibid). The next oldest bridge in city is Clark's Bridge erected in 1766; single segmental 68ft-span (the longest in Ireland when built) bridge upriver of South Gate Bridge (ibid, 226). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009