When the walls were being repaired with scaffolding around the pier, we could cross the river by putting a plank across from the scaffold to the opposite bank, so when the scaffold was taken away we had to cross the river in waders, or go down to the road bridge and back up the other side to work on the opposite bank. Walkers on the footpath were unable to visit the mill before our bridge was made.
We measured up on 17/3/16 to find the narrowest crossing point which was the upper staunch opposite the blacksmith area, so we decided to put our bridge across here.
The bridge was designed and made between 24/3/16 and 31/3/16 in the workshop at the maltings. A wheel bearing was used for the rotating part and scaffold staging with boards attached is the main structure. This is fixed to the hub with a pivoting mechanism to allow it to tilt when swinging into position. The pivot pin can be pulled out to allow complete removal of the bridge if required. The turntable parts were made in the workshop from metal plate.
Handrails were fabricated from tubing which slot into brackets on the side of the bridge. It was painted on 14/4/16 ready to be taken to the mill.
The hub unit was fitted in the ground and allowed to set, ready for the bridge which was taken to the mill and installed on 23/4/16 when we also had a barbecue and opening ceremony for our railway wagon.
Two telescopic feet were fitted on 9/5/16 to make it more sturdy and a few years later on 23/5/19 a box of bricks was added as a counterweight which makes it easy for one person to operate the bridge by sitting on the box of bricks and legging it round.
We have used the bridge at many work parties to cross the river for mowing the footpath, fitting a bench with side tables for walkers to use, strimming around the bench and notice board, topping up our box of cards, putting up notices advertising for volunteers and open days. We also cross the bridge to clear fallen trees blocking the Nar Valley Way.
Visitors on Thursdays can join us to look round (we have a sign inviting them across) and on open days visitors can cross the bridge to get good views from the opposite bank, as well as joining us from the footpath from Narborough, Pentney and Marham.
There is a good view of the mill from the bridge and the staunch feature in the river bed can also be seen. The bridge is put across the river when we are working at the mill and swung away at all other times to prevent unauthorised access.
We noticed some floor panels were spongy so we did a temporary repair on 19/9/24 and decided to fully refurbish the bridge with new support struts and floor panels, this was completed on 17/10/24. We repainted the handrails and fitted cover plates to the floor in July 2025.
Graham Bartlett Interactive Plan Upper Staunch Blacksmith Area 
