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The Iron Bridge
Iron Bridge east side in February 2019.jpg
Coordinates 52°37′38″N 2°29′08″W / 52.627245°N 2.485533°W / 52.627245; -2.485533 (The Iron Bridge)Coordinates: 52°37′38″N 2°29′08″W / 52.627245°N 2.485533°W / 52.627245; -2.485533 (The Iron Bridge)
Carries Pedestrian traffic
Crosses River Severn
Locale Ironbridge Gorge near Coalbrookdale
Owner Telford and Wrekin Council
Heritage status Grade I listed
Characteristics
Design cast-iron arch bridge
Width 250
Longest span 100 ft 6 in (30.63 m)
History
Construction begin November 1777
Construction end July 1779
Opened 1 January 1781

The Iron Bridge was the first arch bridge in the world to be made out of cast iron.

The bridge crosses the River Severn at the Ironbridge Gorge, by the village of Ironbridge, in Shropshire, England.

It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is maintained by English Heritage who launched a crowdfunding campaign in 2017 to support a conservation project which began in 2018. As well as repairing rusted parts of the bridge, it was painted red to match a painting from 1777 showing how the Iron Bridge looked soon after it was finished.

Gallery

  • Ironbridge construction at Blists Hill - geograph.org.uk - 1754320

    This is a reconstruction showing how the arches of the Iron Bridge were put together

  • Ironbridge - geograph.org.uk - 270796

    Buildings which were a context for the Iron Bridge in 1988

Related pages



Images for kids

  • An aerial photo of the bridge, showing the close proximity of the main road alongside the river and the many building dotted nearby.

    The Iron Bridge, in its previous grey colour, from above in 2008

  • A view looking North along the roadway across the bridge, the curve of its arch obscuring much of the town of Ironbridge behind. The town rises up the steep gorge side beyond with the Tontine Hotel and the Church of St Luke directly ahead.

    Pedestrians crossing the Iron Bridge with Ironbridge in the background in 2019, after the bridge had been conserved and the metalwork painted red.

  • Iron Bridge detail of north end from the east, February 2019

    Details from below

  • Radial 'hourglass' supports of the bridge, cracked through the dovetails at their end

    Broken supports in 2004

  • Antique table of bridge tolls now displayed on the outside of the toll house. Tolls range from a halfpenny for a pedestrian to two shillings for a large coach

    Table of tolls

  • Iron Bridge Toll House, February 2019

    The brick tollhouse at the south end of the bridge

  • The Iron Bridge during restoration in 2018

    While the bridge was being restored in 2018, English Heritage installed interpretation panels along the walkway.

  • A painting of the bridge, from mid-river, in the picturesque style of the period. Smoking furnaces can be seen in the distance and a Severn trow is alongside the bridge. Two wealthy coaches are visible, as are a well-dressed party of sightseers in a small boat.

    The painting of the bridge by William Williams

  • Cast iron bridge over River Wear at Sunderland 1796

    Wearmouth Bridge (1793–96)

  • Buildwas Bridge (Telford's bridge)

    Buildwas Bridge by Thomas Telford (1795–96)

  • Coalport br1

    The Coalport Bridge (1818), incorporating three ribs from 1799

  • Craigellachie bridge side on

    Craigellachie Bridge (1814) by Telford

  • Ironbridge e

    The west side of the Iron Bridge in 2013

  • IronBridge2

    Roadway facing north in 2006

  • The Iron Bridge (details from below)

    Details of the bridge in 2016

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