10 Best Facts about the Ironbridge Gorge

Footpath and cottages at the riverside, Ironbridge. Photo by: Mick Lobb- Wikimedia.

10 Best Facts about the Ironbridge Gorge 

Many of the visitors are drawn to the excellent Victorian inspired museums run by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. The Gorge, on the other hand, is a fantastic tourist spot in its own right.

Most of the former industrial sites have been reclaimed by nature, leaving the area with a breathtaking wooded valley. The gorge is now a tricky network of footpaths, bridleways, and country lanes.

The Ironbridge Gorge, one of Shropshire’s famous landmarks, is known around the world as the origin of the Industrial Revolution.

Please, however, do not be misled by the cultural history. The area is no longer industrial. Despite the fact that the revolution began here, most of the factories have vanished, and the Gorge’s natural beauty has been recovered.

1. It was the first structure in the world made from cast iron

Ironbridge Gorge Civil Parish, UK. Photo by: Tanya Dedyukhina- Wikimedia.

The Iron Bridge, built in 1779 by a group of visionary businessmen, was accomplished by advances in iron smelting that occurred a century before. Casting such large parts was difficult and needed qualifications practiced over centuries.

The Iron Bridge is an excellent starting point for a tour of Ironbridge Gorge. The gorge, which is now a serene valley, was once at the epicenter of industry and engineering.

Tour one of the museums to learn about the history of the region. Other English Heritage sites in the area include Buildwas Abbey, Wenlock Priory, and Wroxeter Roman City.

Boscobel House and the Royal Oak are only ten miles from Iron Bridge. After being defeated at Worcester in 1651, the future King Charles II sought refuge here from Oliver Cromwell’s men.

2. The bridge was neither designed by telford nor brunel 

The Ironbridge. Photo by: Roger Geach- Wikimedia.

Thomas Farnolls Pritchard, a Shrewsbury architect, was in charge of designing the Iron Bridge. However, Pritchard was a trained architect and stonemason, and it is believed that the framework we see today was influenced by Abraham Darby III, who was skilled in working with metal.

3. The gorge, in which the bridge was formed during the ice age 

Ironbridge B Power Station near Ironbridge. Photo by: Stephen Richards- Wikimedia.

There are several geological hypotheses as to how the Severn Gorge formed. According to one common assumption, a large lake formed as the ice melted during the last Ice Age. The lake overflowed as the water level rose, forming fast-flowing streams that cut through the rock, forming the dramatic gorge we see today.

4. Until 1950, everyone had to pay a toll to cross- even the queen

They may be the rulers of the country, but a toll is a toll. ‘Every police or soldier, whether on duty or not, is liable to pay toll for passing over, as is any baggage wagon, mail coach, or the Royal Family,’ stated a sign. The sign on the Toll House alongside the bridge can still be seen today. Vehicle tolls were eliminated in 1934, but pedestrians had to pay until 1950.

5. An elephant has walked across the bridge 

Ironbridge. Photo by: JCNazza- Wikimedia.

It’s among the most iconic images of the Iron Bridge, and it demonstrates that an elephant was among the more unusual guests to the bridge. In 1932, the elephant marched across the 100-foot, 378-tonne bridge to the delight of spectators in a publicity stunt promoting Chapman’s Zoo-Circus.

6. A long line of quaker iron founders were involved

The story of the Iron Bridge started in the early 18th century in the nearby village of Coalbrookdale. Abraham Darby pioneered the use of coke in iron smelting, which fueled the Industrial Revolution.

Abraham Darby III used the same technologies employed by his grandfather to cast the ironwork for the bridge that still stands today. The bridge was so successful that it inspired the stunning wooded valley that surrounds it, which is now designated as the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site.

In 1709, Abraham Darby I of Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, pioneered the use of roasted coal, or coke, instead of charcoal in the production of iron. His grandson, Abraham Darby III, later funded much of the Iron Bridge’s construction out of his own wallet, contributing £3000. That equates to £438,000 in today’s money.

7. The iron bridge was almost sold for scrap

There was discussion in the 1960s of demolishing the Iron Bridge and selling it for scrap. Fortunately, in the 1970s, the site was placed under the care of English Heritage and its colonizers, and it was one of the first places in the UK to be inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage locations.

8. Even the Queen had to pay tolls to pass

No matter who you are, crossing the Iron Bridge will cost you money. Even the queen, in all her splendor, had to pay to cross. There is a sign that translates all toll payment information so that people know how much they have to pay.

Tolls for vehicles were lifted by 1934, but pedestrians had to pay until the 1950s. For visitors, the Iron Bridge in Shropshire is still an excellent way to experience the county and the people’s rich culture.

9. Saved By UNESCO

Authorities considered demolishing the bridge and selling it for scrap in the 1960s. This did not sit well with some members of society, who consider the bridge to be an important cultural landmark.

The custodial rights changed in the 1970s, just before it was dismantled. Soon after, the bridge reached a respectable height and was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

10. It influenced several bridge designs

The Iron Bridge in Shropshire was so impressive that it inspired a couple of other bridge construction projects. The Buildwas Bridge in Telford, which is also in Shropshire, is an example.

Another example is the Wearmouth Bridge, which was built in 1793-96 with a 235-foot span.

The bridge was built from cast iron in the shape of cast voussoirs, inspired by the Iron Bridge. In 1801 in faraway Jamaica, the first iron bridge outside of the United Kingdom was built. The bridge that was built across Rio Cobre was heavily influenced by the Iron Bridge in Shropshire.