"The earliest bridge of cold blast iron designed by Abraham Darby in 1778. The charm as well as the admirable boldness of the bridge is indeed its light and lacy thinness." Pevsner
It was at Ironbridge, Shropshire that first large scale production of cast iron was developed using a process pioneered by Abraham Darby. Items made in Ironbridge were shipped all over the world.
Here in 1779 the worlds first cast iron bridge was built spanning the River Severn - beautifully constructed, totally innovative - today the Ironbridge stands as a permanent reminder of our industrial past.
Ironbridge is regarded as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - sitting alongside The Taj Mahal, The Pyramids and The Grand Canyon - pretty important sites.
Multiple attractions including:
The Tollhouse and Ironbridge - the original Ironbridge.
The Museum of the Gorge - good place to start.
Museum of Iron - with the original furnace that started it all.
Blist's Hill - experience the atmosphere of a Victorian working town.
Coalport China Museum - dazzling displays of two centuries of china.
Darby Houses - where Abraham Darby III finalised plans for the Ironbridge.
Jackfield Tile Museum - former world centre of the decorative tile industry.
Broseley Pipeworks - preserved time capsule of clay pipe making.
Enginuity The new museum, awarded the 2003 Good Britain Guide 'Family Attraction of the year'. A real hands-on experience
