⚠ Announcement

The area around Ironbridge on the River Severn is well-known for its gorges, which have large deposits of limestone, iron ore, and coal. As a result, during the early Industrial Revolution the area thrived very quickly, and an easier way to traverse the Severn was needed in order to better transport the mined minerals. Designed by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard and built by Abraham Darby III, the Iron Bridge is a technological marvel for its time, as it is the first-ever cast iron bridge built in the world. It was opened to traffic on January 1, 1781. This design went on to inspire other cast iron bridges in Britain and worldwide. The gorge, the bridge, and the nearby industrial community of Ironbridge were all added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1986.

You can visit Ironbridge Gorge from Shrewsbury