It is said to be the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution
back in the 19th century, but today nature has reclaimed the
Ironbridge Gorge. Britain’s infamous
industrial heritage comes together hand in hand with the lush countryside, earning the area UNESCO world heritage site status.
Located only around an hour to the west of Birmingham, this area is a
million miles away from Birmingham’s busy city atmosphere.
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| Iron Bridge |
In the Victorian era, the small valley was a bustling hive
of activity. The famed ironworks was
first opened in the village of Coalbrookdale by ironmaker Abraham Darby. The works used coal and iron ore which was mined
in the village itself, taking advantage of the area’s abundant and pure natural
resources. The small village became a
prosperous producer of iron, eventually providing iron for the English railways which grew
massively as a result of the Industrial Revolution. However, perhaps the most famous legacy of
the Coalbrookdale works is the stunning ‘Iron Bridge’ which was designed by
architect Thomas Pritchard and completed in January 1781 – the first cast iron
arch bridge in the world. The bridge
crosses the River Severn, with a span of 100 feet and 6 inches, and has in
itself become a symbol of Britain’s industrial legacy.
There are countless museums to visit in the area, which
offer a good insight into the area’s history.
These include the Bridge Museum and Tollhouse, the Museum of the Gorge
and the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron.
Crossing the bridge itself is free, and gives some lovely views of the surrounding
wooded landscape. Upon the riverbank, there is a village of the same name – Ironbridge – which grew up after the
creation of the bridge and which today is home to some lovely tea rooms. The area also attracts a lot of walkers. Although the nearest major town Telford is
not the most attractive place I’ve been, there are several very pretty places
within a short distance, particularly Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth.
Thanks for reading!
Elis Griffiths. x
Elis Griffiths. x
