IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Wimborne Road, WIMBORNE, BH21 1NN

Pub on Wimborne Road, Walford, next to Image Internally, L-shaped bar, with eating and drinking areas to left and front, darts; outside seating overlooking River Allen. Cask ales on offer at my visit: Hall & Woodhouse Badger, Tanglefoot. For some customer comments, see http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/38/3838/Crown_and_Anchor/Wimborne

View from close to the old mill now a craft centre. The bridge is an old pack horse bridge that was remodelled in 1802 to the designs of William Evans of Wimborne

Stone bridge over River Allen on Wimborne Road, Walford.

Bridge Weight Plate by the B3078, in parish of Wimborne Minster (East Dorset District), Walford Bridge, on East parapet, mid bridge, visible from road or by leaning over parapet from footpath. Partly buried in tarmac. Inscription reads:- NOTICE TO OWNERS AND DRIVERS OF TRACTION ENGINES THIS BRIDGE IS INSUFFICIENT TO CARRY WEIGHTS BEYOND THE ORDINARY TRAFFIC OF THE DISTRICT Walford Bridge is Grade II* listed. List Entry Number: 1119538 https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1119538 Surveyed Milestone Society National ID: DO_WEIWIWabr

There is a large patch of watercress by the riverbank.

As seen from Image; the river joins the Stour about 1500m to the South-east.

Bridge Weight Plate by the B3078, in parish of Wimborne Minster (East Dorset District), Walford Bridge, South West corner of bridge parapet. 'Lost' Inscription reads:- COUNTY COUNCIL OF DORSET. TAKE NOTICE THAT THIS BRIDGE (WHICH IS A COUNTY BRIDGE) IS INSUFFICIENT TO CARRY WEIGHTS BEYOND THE ORDINARY TRAFFIC OF THE DISTRICT; AND THAT THE OWNERS AND PERSONS IN CHARGE OF LOCOMOTIVE TRACTION ENGINES AND OTHER PONDEROUS CARRIAGES ARE WARNED AGAINST USING THE BRIDGE FOR THE PASSAGE OF ANY SUCH ENGINE OR CARRIAGE. E. ARCHDALL FFOOKS CLERK OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF DORSET Walford Bridge is Grade II* Listed. List Entry Number: 1119538 https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1119538 Surveyed Milestone Society National ID: DO_WEIWIWbbr

Now a craft centre, the mill once had two waterwheels of the undershot type about 2.4 metres in diameter. Little remains to show this except the wheel housings. At about 1900 these wheels were replaced by "British Empire Turbines" made by the Armfield Engineering Company of Fordingbridge. The mill building was extended and a furnace/boiler room was added on the ground floor. This was an alternative source of power for the mill when water was scarce.

There's an industrial building adjoining Walford Mill House which is Grade II listed. It's on the left of the picture and originated in the 19th C. It has English Heritage Building ID: 107102.

This spillway was original in place to allow water from the millpond to overflow and bypass the mill and its waterwheels. the spillway is now permanently dry as the sluice gates have been removed emptying the millpond and only a small amount of water goes through the mill.