General’s Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single arch stone bridge over a small streamlet on the boundary of the Feeny ward adjacent to Feeny village.

A single semi-circular arch random rubble sandstone bridge with a span of 4 metres. The vault of the bridge is on a slight skew under the carriageway which is 7½ metres wide and parapets exceptionally long at 47½ metres. There are large stepped triangular breakwaters on the upstream side. The bed of the stream is concreted downstream.There are large crude steel beam crossheads form the terminals to the tie rods strengthening the bridge structure. The archway of the bridge is much nearer the east end of the structure. Parapet wall is finished with stone on edge coping.

Historical information

This bridge is probably late 18th cent. built under the Grand Jury system. O.S. Memoirs record ; “road is very old and is supposed to have been made at the beginning of the 18th century, and it runs now on the same level as that on which it was first formed”. John McCluskey refers to it as “The General’s bridge, a little to the west of Feeny, consisting of one stately arch of white freestone”. Stately and white are not descriptive terms that would be applicable tday.
Shane Crossagh, highway man, was supposed to have been captured at this bridge by a ruse of a military general receiving information that the robber would pass over the bridge. The general not having sufficient numbers of men to support him, had dummies made to surround the bridge so that when the highwayman approached and was challenged he thought he was greatly out numbered and surrendered. Thus the title the General’s bridge.
I H R No. 1950

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1830 Londonderry sh. 30
2. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry X, 1833-34, 1839
Ed. by Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams, Q.U.B. p. 30
3. John McCluskey, Statistical Reports of Six Derry Parishes 1821 p. 74

Secondary Sources
1. Local folklore.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A late 18th cent. stone built single arch bridge with semi-circular arch typical of the period. The bridge vaulting passes under the road in a slight skew fashion.