General’s Bridge, Glenshane Road, Feeny, Co Londonderry

A late 18th-century stone bridge carries the Glenshane Road over a small stream on the boundary of the Feeny ward, near Feeny village. The bridge is constructed of random rubble sandstone with a semi-circular arch, typical of the period, and has a span of 4 metres. The vault of the bridge runs under the carriageway, which is 7½ metres wide, on a slight skew. The parapets are exceptionally long, extending 47½ metres. Large, stepped triangular breakwaters are visible on the upstream side. The bed of the stream has been concreted downstream. Large, crude steel beam crossheads form the terminals to the tie rods strengthening the bridge's structure. The archway is positioned nearer the east end of the bridge. The parapet wall is finished with stone-edged coping.

The bridge was likely built in the late 18th century under the Grand Jury system. According to Ordnance Survey Memoirs, the road itself is very old, potentially dating back to the beginning of the 18th century. Local records once described the bridge, attributed to a military general who purportedly captured a highwayman, Shane Crossagh, using a ruse involving dummies to make the highwayman believe he was outnumbered. The bridge’s name derives from this event. This structure demonstrates industrial archaeological interest.