Milford Bridge, No.105, North Of Home Farm, Milford

This is a late 18th century canal accommodation bridge, number 105, built by the canal engineer James Brindley as part of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. The canal was constructed under an Act of 1766 and opened in 1772, forming part of Brindley’s ambitious “Grand Cross” scheme linking major rivers.

The bridge is built of random bond brick with sandstone coping, although some of the sandstone has been replaced with engineering brick. The west side is ramped down to the towpath, while the east side terminates in corner piers. It features a semi-elliptical arch, a sandstone string course, and plain parapets. Cast-iron plaques bearing the bridge’s name and number are affixed to both the west and east faces. Minor repairs have been undertaken to the structure.

The bridge is designated at Grade II for being a good example of a largely intact canal structure dating from around 1770, considered one of the earliest examples of a turnover bridge, and for its association with the significant canal engineer James Brindley and the broader national waterways system of the late 18th century.