Eden Bridge, Glenshane Road, Eden, Dungiven, Co Londonderry

This is a mid-19th century stone bridge located on the Glenshane Road, near Eden, Dungiven, County Londonderry. The bridge is a dramatic, semi-circular single arch spanning approximately 7 metres over a small stream cutting a gorge-like feature into the landscape. The arch springs from a horizontal string course on top of high supporting walls, with well-formed rockfaced, rectangular voissoirs forming the arch itself. The soffit of the arch vault is faced with roughly squared, coursed stones. Below the string course, large squared stones are incorporated into the construction, while above the string course the bridge is built of random rubble sandstone. The abutments are relatively short and terminate in line with the top of the gorge.

Downstream, past subsidence and partial collapse, strengthening work has been carried out using concrete, which includes a rather crude beam and columnar support that disfigures that side of the bridge. A bold torus string course extends below the parapet for the length of the bridge above the voissoirs. The upstream parapet is of stone, while the downstream side has been rebuilt and rendered. The bridge exhibits a slight curve.

The road has been realigned in recent years, with the new route bypassing the bridge. A habitable dwelling is situated upstream, and the occupants have undertaken some landscaping and a pathway leading from the bridge to the dwelling.

The bridge likely dates from the time the Glenshane Road was rerouted from the west side of the River Roe to the east side, an event believed to have occurred around 1840. The original route can still be followed from Carn via Corick bridge and Glenshane bridge. The structure possesses characteristics of industrial archaeological interest.