Abbot's Mill footbridge and sluice

Abbot's Mill footbridge and sluice is a cast-iron structure built in 1829 that regulates the flow of the River Stour. It consists of two main parts: a footbridge and a sluice located on the south side of the bridge. The structure is about 7 meters wide and spans from the west bank of the river to the southern end of the river island that separates the river from the millrace that once powered Abbot's Mill.

The bridge is supported by two decorative spandrels. The northern spandrel, which is downstream, features the date in the center, while the southern spandrel, upstream, is obscured by the sluice mechanisms. The sluice includes six cast-iron mechanisms mounted on the bridge, each controlling a main paddle, with vertical iron struts separating each paddle. Additional sheet metal paddles can be added to each main paddle-lifting mechanism, allowing for a total of up to 12 extra paddles. The main paddles and lifting mechanisms appear to be original to the 1829 construction, while the smaller paddles are modern replacements.

The handrails on either side of the bridge consist of metal uprights and two horizontal metal bars. The downstream handrail seems to be original, featuring rats-tail finials and solid cast uprights. In contrast, the upstream handrail is more recent, with modern rails and uprights made from flat bar, twisted at the base and secured with a small backstay, likely dating from the late 19th or early 20th century. The entire structure is reinforced with raked stays on the downstream side, with the eastern stay appearing to be a later replacement. The bridge surface is currently covered with modern tread-plate.