Town Bridge

Town Bridge, also known as Sturminster Newton Bridge, is a multi-span bridge that dates from the late 15th century or early 16th century and was widened in the 17th century. It is constructed of ashlar and squared rubble stone.

The bridge features six two-centred arches that carry a road approximately 18 feet (about 4 meters) wide across the River Stour. The arches from the earlier, 12-foot-wide bridge are visible on both sides and are slightly gradated, with chamfered ashlar archivolts that end in run-out stops at springing level. The 17th-century arches are segmental-pointed and spring from corbelled string courses that have been inserted above the cutwaters of the original piers. Between each pair of arches, the points of the cutwaters extend upwards to road level. The larger central cutwaters are corbelled out at the top to create pedestrian refuges on either side of the road.

The roadway is marked on both sides by hollow-chamfered string courses, which are much weathered, above which are squared parapets with coping—featuring a single row on the road side and two stages on the river side. The central upstream cutwater has a datestone from 1820, which is upside down when viewed from the side of the bridge but appears correctly when viewed from the roadway. The most northerly cutwater on the same side has a datestone from 1827. The entrances to the bridge have splayed parapets.

Additionally, Town Bridge features an iron plaque affixed within the downstream refuge, which states, "ANY PERSON WILFULLY INJURING ANY PART OF THIS COUNTY BRIDGE WILL BE GUILTY OF FELONY AND UPON CONVICTION LIABLE TO BE TRANSPORTED FOR LIFE."