Ironbridge Gorge Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Ironbridge Gorge *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Iron Bridge
Country	United Kingdom
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iv, vi
Reference	371
Region **	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	1986 (10th Session)
Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO

The Ironbridge Gorge is a famous valley in Shropshire, England. It holds the River Severn, one of Britain's longest rivers. This deep valley was created by a huge flood from a melted glacier at the end of the last ice age.

As the gorge formed, it cut through the ground, showing valuable natural resources. These included coal, iron ore, limestone, and a special type of clay called fireclay. These materials were very important. They helped the area grow quickly during the early Industrial Revolution.

The gorge was first called the Severn Gorge. But now, it's known for its amazing Iron Bridge. This bridge was the first in the world made from cast iron. It stands as a symbol of the new industries that started here. The bridge was built in 1779. It connected the industrial town of Broseley with the smaller mining town of Madeley and the growing industrial center of Coalbrookdale.

The Ironbridge Gorge was perfect for early industries for two main reasons. First, all the raw materials needed were easy to find. Coal, iron ore, limestone, and clay were either visible or easy to mine from the gorge's sides. These were used to make iron, tiles, and porcelain. Second, the River Severn was deep and wide. This made it easy to transport finished products by boat all the way to the sea.

History of the Ironbridge Gorge
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History of the Ironbridge Gorge

The Ironbridge Gorge gets its name from the famous "Iron Bridge". This bridge was the first of its kind in the world to be made from iron. It is a monument to the amazing industrial changes that began in this area. The bridge was built in 1779. It linked the busy industrial town of Broseley with the smaller mining town of Madeley. It also connected to Coalbrookdale, which was a growing center for new industries.

The Iron Bridge was the first arch bridge in the world built using cast iron. Before this, cast iron was too expensive for such large structures. However, a new type of blast furnace was built nearby. This new furnace helped to lower the cost of making cast iron. This made it possible for local engineers and architects to finally solve a long-standing problem: how to build a strong bridge over the River Severn.

The Ironbridge Gorge was very important for early industrialists. There were two main reasons for this. First, the raw materials needed for making iron, tiles, and porcelain were easy to find. These included coal, iron ore, limestone, and clay. They were either exposed in the gorge or easy to mine. Second, the River Severn was deep and wide. This allowed for easy transport of products to the sea.