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Ford is a river crossing point in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, protected as a Historic Monument by the Historic Environment Division. The ford represents a traditional means of traversing the watercourse that served the local community for centuries before the construction of modern bridges. Such crossings were essential infrastructure in medieval and early modern settlement patterns, often developing into significant focal points for trade and communication.
The ford sits above bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks, mafic lava and tuff formations laid down during intense volcanic activity in the early Tertiary period. These hard volcanic deposits, which underlie much of the Coleraine area, would have created naturally suitable crossing points where the river bed was relatively firm and stable. The geology of the site thus directly influenced both the feasibility and longevity of this ford as a practicable route.
The ford's protection under the Historic Environment Division reflects its archaeological and historical significance within the landscape of Coleraine. Fords served diverse functions beyond simple passage, often becoming gathering places, trading locations and points marked by boundary stones or toll collection. The survival of this crossing point in the modern landscape preserves evidence of pre-industrial communication networks and settlement patterns in the region.
Ford is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 16335. View the official record →
Ford is a river crossing point in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, protected as a Historic Monument by the Historic Environment Division. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 16335.
Ford is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 16335.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Mound (0.4 km), Mound - motte? (3.2 km), Tappatowsie. mound (5.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Ford's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Ford stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.