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Ironbridge

Coordinates: 52°37′40″N 2°29′06″W / 52.6277°N 2.485°W / 52.6277; -2.485
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(Redirected from Ironbridge, Shropshire)
This article is about the town in Shropshire. For the iron structure, see The Iron Bridge. For other uses, see Iron Bridge.

Ironbridge
Town
Ironbridge, seen from the Iron Bridge
Ironbridge is located in Shropshire
Ironbridge
Ironbridge
Location within Shropshire
Population2,582 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceSJ6724903350
• London126 mi (203 km) SE
Civil parish
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townTELFORD
Postcode districtTF8
Dialling code01952
PoliceWest Mercia
FireShropshire
AmbulanceWest Midlands
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Shropshire
52°37′40″N 2°29′06″W / 52.6277°N 2.485°W / 52.6277; -2.485

Ironbridge is a riverside town[2] in the borough of Telford and Wrekin in Shropshire, England. Located on the bank of the River Severn, at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge, it lies in the civil parish of The Gorge. Ironbridge developed beside, and takes its name from, The Iron Bridge, a 100-foot (30 m) cast iron bridge that was built in 1779.

History

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The area around Ironbridge is described by those promoting it as a tourist destination as the "Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution".[3] This description is based on the idea that Abraham Darby perfected the technique of smelting iron with coke, in Coalbrookdale, allowing much cheaper production of iron.[citation needed] However, the industrial revolution did not begin in any one place. Darby's iron smelting was but one small part of this generalised revolution and was soon superseded by the great iron-smelting areas. However, the bridge – being the first of its kind fabricated from cast iron, and one of the few which have survived to the present day – remains an important symbol representative of the dawn of the industrial age.[citation needed]

The grandson of the first Abraham Darby, Abraham Darby III, built the bridge – originally designed by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard – to link the two areas. Construction began in 1779, and the bridge opened on New Year's Day 1781.[4][5] Soon afterwards the ancient Madeley market was relocated to the new purpose-built square and Georgian Butter Cross. The former dispersed settlement of Madeley Wood gained a planned urban focus as Ironbridge, the commercial and administrative centre of the Coalbrookdale coalfield.

The Iron Bridge proprietors also built the Tontine Hotel to accommodate visitors to the new bridge and the industrial sites of the Severn Gorge. Across a square facing the hotel, stands Ironbridge's war memorial, which was erected in 1924. It is a bronze statue of a First World War soldier in marching order, sculpted by Arthur George Walker, whose signature appears as does that of A.B. Burton, the foundry worker who erected it.[6] On the hillside above the river are situated the stone-built 16th-century hunting lodge at Lincoln Hill, many 17th- and 18th-century workers' cottages, some imposing Georgian houses built by ironmasters and mine and river barge owners, and many early Victorian villas built from the various coloured bricks and tiles of the locality.

A view of the Iron Bridge in 2015 with its previous grey colour

St Luke's Church (1837) in simple Commissioners' Gothic by Samuel Smith of Madeley, has stained glass by David Evans of Shrewsbury. Its design is unusual in that the sanctuary is at the west-end and the tower at the east, in reverse to the majority of churches. This is because the land at the west-end was unstable and unable to take the weight of a tower. The bells in the church tower were installed in 1920 as a memorial to parishioners who died in the First World War, and the external church clock was illuminated in memory of those who died in the Second.[6] The living was endowed as a rectory when the parish was created from Madeley in 1847, and is now a united benefice with Coalbrookdale and Little Wenlock, in the Diocese of Hereford.

The former Ironbridge and Broseley railway station, on the Severn Valley line (GWR) from Hartlebury to Shrewsbury, was situated on the south side of the Iron Bridge until 1966. Ironbridge was the birthplace of England National Football Team captain Billy Wright.

Present day

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The Iron Bridge following the 2018 restoration

By the 19th century, Ironbridge had had many well-known visitors, including Benjamin Disraeli,[citation needed] but by the mid-20th century, the settlements and industries of the gorge were in decline. In 1986, though, Ironbridge became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (which covers the wider Ironbridge Gorge area) and has since become a major tourist attraction within Shropshire. Most industries in Ironbridge are now tourist-related; however, the Merrythought teddy bear company (established in 1930) is still manufacturing in Ironbridge and has a small museum there too. Amongst other things, the centre of Ironbridge is host to a post office, pharmacy, various pubs, cafés and many small independent shops.

Ironbridge was struck by an F1/T2 tornado on 23 November 1981, as part of the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day.[7] On Thursday 10 July 2003 The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh made a visit to Shropshire which included a visit to Ironbridge, and a walk over the bridge itself.[8]

An annual Coracle Regatta is held in August on the River Severn at Ironbridge, along with many other events throughout the year. This is mainly because the coracle-making family of Rogers lived in Ironbridge for several generations. Just outside Ironbridge in Coalbrookdale is the Ironbridge Institute, a partnership between the University of Birmingham and the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust offering postgraduate and professional development in heritage.

Flooding

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Barriers erected along the Wharfage

Ironbridge has an annually reoccurring problem of flooding from the River Severn, as do many other parts of Shropshire. Flooding has previously caused much damage and disruption to the Wharfage, which accommodates both The Swan and White Hart pubs, and various private homes. Starting in February 2004, DEFRA, in association with the Environment Agency, implemented a portable barrier which is erected at times of floods. At its peak, the flood water has reached a depth of one metre (3 ft 3 in) against the barrier.

On 26 February 2020, after large amounts of rainfall brought by storms Ciara and Dennis, the portable barrier was compromised; it required an evacuation of all residents from the wharfage.[9] Ironbridge flooded again in February 2022.[10][11]

Notable people

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Statue of Billy Wright outside Molineux stadium

The Ironbridge Gorge Museums

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The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust owns and operates 10 museums throughout the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site; they collectively tell the story of the Industrial Revolution.

The museums include:

  • The Old Furnace, Coalbrookdale
    The Old Furnace, Coalbrookdale
  • Jackfield Tile Museum
    Jackfield Tile Museum
  • Dale House
    Dale House
  • Rosehill House
    Rosehill House
  • Blists Hill Victorian Town
    Blists Hill Victorian Town
  • The Iron Bridge
    The Iron Bridge

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Civil Parish population 2011". Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Godwin, Joseph, (born 7 July 1964), Director, BBC Academy, since 2015, and BBC Midlands, since 2016 (Director, BBC Birmingham, 2015–16)", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2011, retrieved 8 November 2024
  3. ^ "The Iron Bridge".
  4. ^ de Haan, David (17 February 2011). "The Iron Bridge – How was it Built?". BBC. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  5. ^ "The Iron Bridge". English Heritage. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  6. ^ a b Peter Francis (2013). Shropshire War Memorials, Sites of Remembrance. YouCaxton Publications. pp. 135–136. ISBN 978-1-909644-11-3.
  7. ^ "European Severe Weather Database".
  8. ^ "Royal visit timetable". 9 July 2003. Archived from the original on 11 March 2005. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  9. ^ "Ironbridge evacuated". 26 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Flooding at Ironbridge museums for third year running". Museums Association. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  11. ^ Adams, Geraldine Kendall (24 February 2022). "Flooding at Ironbridge museums for third year running". museumsassociation.org/.
  12. ^ "The Coracle Men". Ironbridge Coracle Trust. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Bright spark helped electrical revolution, Life and achievements of pioneer celebrated at special day". Shropshire Star. 8 September 2015. p. 16.Report by Toby Neal, title refers to Thomas Parker day being held 10 October 2015, organised by Madeley Living History Group.
  14. ^ The Who's Who of Radical Leicester by Ned Newitt Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  15. ^ "The Ironbridge Rocket". BBC Shropshire. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  16. ^ Howse, Christopher (30 April 2010). "Meet the Telegraph's cryptic crossword maestro". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  17. ^ "Ace’s two millionth brainteaser", Shropshire Star, 1 October 2007
  18. ^ "Ian Blakemore". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  19. ^ Harvey, Ian (12 June 2021). "MBE for Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades in Queen's Birthday Honours". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  20. ^ "U.K. Death Metallers Cancer To Reform..." Blabbermouth.net. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ironbridge.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ironbridge.
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