Ringsend Bridge
{{Short description|Bridge over the River Dodder in Ireland}}
{{Use Irish English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name = Ringsend Bridge
|image = Ringsend_Bridge.JPG
|image_size = 260
| other_name = Charlotte Bridge
|alt = Ringsend Bridge from the west side of the Dodder looking southeast
|caption = Ringsend Bridge from the west side of the Dodder looking southeast
|crosses = River Dodder
|material = Wicklow granite
|length = ~23.77m
|width = ~8.22m
|spans = 1
|begin = 1803
|preceded = 1st Ringsend Bridge (1650 - 1739)[https://www.jstor.org/pss/30083871 The Dodder Valley by James Hegarty]
2nd Ringsend Bridge (1739 - 1782)
3rd Ringsend Bridge (1786 - 1787 - incomplete)
4th Ringsend Bridge (1789 - 1802)
|maint = Dublin City Council
|coordinates = {{coord|53.341724|-6.228857|display=inline,title}}
}}
Ringsend Bridge is a bridge over the River Dodder in Dublin, Ireland. The current bridge was opened in 1812 after the previous structure was destroyed in a flood in 1802. The bridge is part of the R802 regional road and is part of Bridge Street.
History
In 1623 Richard Morgan first petitioned Dublin Corporation to build a bridge but this was declined.
A bridge was built in 1650 and this lasted until 1739 when it was washed away in a flood, as mentioned in the Pembroke Estate Papers.
The new bridge lasted only until 1782 when another flood destroyed the structure.
=1786 bridge=
A replacement bridge was begun in 1786 but was destroyed by yet another flood the following year. An illustration by John James Barralet from 1787 shows people clambering over makeshift planks attached to the collapsed bridge.
=1789 bridge=
A fourth bridge was built from 1787-89 after a competition was held but this succumbed to a flood in December 1802 when over 3 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. Prior to its destruction, it was described as being of "very solid and judicious construction" with a Mr. Black being noted as the contractor.{{cite web |title=CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, RINGSEND BRIDGE Dictionary of Irish Architects - |url=https://www.dia.ie/works/view/38192/building/CO.+DUBLIN%2C+DUBLIN%2C+RINGSEND+BRIDGE |website=www.dia.ie |access-date=1 September 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.met.ie/cms/assets/uploads/2017/08/Dec1802_floods.pdf |title=Exceptional weather events |access-date=1 September 2023}} The same storm also destroyed Ormonde Bridge and Lucan Bridge on the nearby River Liffey.
=Modern bridge=
The current structure was begun in 1803 and finally completed in 1812. It appears to have been both designed and built by Dublin Corporation.{{cite web |last1=Cox |first1=Ronald C. |last2=Gould |first2=Michael H. |title=Ireland |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nfTy6VSUDqMC&dq=%22ringsend+bridge%22&pg=PA22 |publisher=Thomas Telford |access-date=1 September 2023 |language=en |date=1998}}
It is a single arch of elliptical shape. The bridge notably has spandrel walls constructed as extensions of the voussoirs and features cornes de vache in the French style.{{cite web |last1=Abdunur |first1=C. |title=Arch'01 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E7ywmb24EQMC&dq=%22ringsend+bridge%22&pg=PA87 |publisher=Presses des Ponts |access-date=1 September 2023 |language=en |date=2001}}{{cite web |last1=Ruddock |first1=Ted |title=Arch Bridges and Their Builders 1735-1835 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=amQ9AAAAIAAJ&dq=%22ringsend+bridge%22&pg=PA177 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |access-date=1 September 2023 |language=en |date=17 May 1979}}
The bridge was originally named Charlotte Bridge for Princess Charlottle, daughter of the Prince Regent, later George IV.{{cite web |last1=Kullmann |first1=Kurt |title=Four Sisters: The History of Ringsend, Irishtown, Sandymount and Merrion |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TYQsDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22ringsend+bridge%22&pg=PT38 |publisher=The History Press |access-date=1 September 2023 |language=en |date=4 September 2017}}
External links
- [http://www.askaboutireland.ie/_internal/cimg!0/mer9u5t7xhqj52tc1ew3ktvt4ew49h3 Picture of the ruined bridge in 1787]
References
{{reflist}}
{{RiverDodderBridges}}
Category:Bridges completed in 1812
Category:Bridges in Dublin (city)
{{Ireland-bridge-struct-stub}}