The Bridge

The Bridge is a road bridge that spans the River Lud, built in the mid-18th century, with repairs and alterations made in the 19th and 20th centuries.

It is constructed from ashlar sandstone, featuring some balusters made of concrete and brick underpinning below the parapets. The bridge has a two-arch design with masonry cutwaters on the upstream side, which are grooved to accommodate stop planks that divert water into the mill race of the nearby water mill through the northernmost arch.

Architecturally, the bridge showcases Palladian-style detailing and proportions. It has splayed abutments at both ends, with curved ashlar parapet walls that have panel decoration on their inner faces. Each end of the parapet walling is flanked by square-sectioned ashlar piers. The central sections of both parapets are divided into two parts, each consisting of eight moulded balusters, separated by a central rectangular panelled pier. The parapets are topped with moulded ashlar saddleback copings. The outer faces of the bridge also support 20th-century metal service pipe work, which is not considered of special interest.

The bridge is a significant feature in the setting of the adjacent former water mill, with which it was historically associated and shares group value.