Iles'S Mill Lock And Canal Bridge

Iles's Mill Lock and Canal Bridge is a structure built in 1785 for the Thames and Severn Canal Company, located off the south side of London Road in Chalford. The bridge and the side walls of the canal lock are made of red brick with ashlar limestone dressings. The brick lock walls feature a widening entrance at the east end, and there are large ashlar coping stones and dressings at the gate positions, along with iron fittings to secure the gateposts. At the time of the survey in September 1986, the pair of lock gates at the east end were in poor condition, and other gates were missing. Brick steps leading from the towpath to the higher lock-side level were rebuilt during repairs in 1902-1903. The bridge connects to the lock at the west end, featuring a segmental arch with ashlar imposts and a plain curved extrados string course. The bridge has a plain parapet and curved retaining walls topped with plain stone coping. The parapet at the north end was raised in stone around 1814 after the adjacent turnpike road was constructed. There is little patching or evidence of rebuilding.