Ironbridge

Ironbridge

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Ironbridge
latitude= 52.6265

longitude= -2.4838

civil_parish= The Gorge
population = 2,457cite web|title=National Statistics - Neighbourhood statistics by ward|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/areasubject.do]
unitary_england= Telford and Wrekin
lieutenancy_england= Shropshire
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster= Telford
post_town= IRONBRIDGE
postcode_district = TF8

postcode_area= TF
dial_code= 01952
os_grid_reference= SJ6724903350
static_

static_image_caption=Ironbridge village, seen from the Iron Bridge.

Ironbridge is a settlement on the River Severn, at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge in Telford, Shropshire, England. It lies in the parish of The Gorge, in the borough of Telford and Wrekin. The village developed beside, and takes its name from the famous Iron Bridge, a 30 metre (100 ft) cast iron bridge that was built across the river there in 1779.

History

The area around Ironbridge is described as the "Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution" because it is near a the place where Abraham Darby I perfected the technique of smelting iron with coke, allowing much cheaper production of iron. The grandson of the first Abraham Darby, Abraham Darby III, built the famous 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. Soon afterwards the ancient Madeley market was relocated to the new purpose built square and Georgian Butter Cross and 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 sights of the Severn Gorge. 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 canal barge owners, and many early Victorian villas built from the various coloured bricks and tiles of the locality.

St Luke's Church (1837) in simple Commissioners' Gothic by Samuel Smith of Madeley, has stained glass by David Evans of Shrewsbury. The living was endowed as a rectory when the parish was created from Madeley in 1847 and is now a united with Coalbrookdale and Little Wenlock, in the Diocese of Hereford. The former Iron Bridge 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.

Present day

s and many successful small shops.

An annual Coracle Regatta is held in August on the River Severn at Ironbridge, along with many other events throughout the year. 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.

A number of historical sites in the village, including the wharfage and the bridge itself, are waypoints on the South Telford Heritage Trail.

Flooding

Ironbridge has an annually recurring 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, Homeward Bound Home & Gift Store, Darlingtons of Ironbridge 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 against the barrier.

ee also

* Ironbridge Gorge Museums
* The Iron Bridge
* Ironbridge Power Station
* Coalbrookdale by Night

References and notes

External links

* [http://www.ironbridgeguide.info Ironbridge Visitor Guide]
* [http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/about_us/ironbridge_archaeology/ Ironbridge Archaeology]


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  • Ironbridge — [Ironbridge] a town near Telford in ↑Shropshire, England, in the Ironbridge Gorge which was an early centre of the ↑Industrial Revolution. It has the first major iron bridge in the world (opened in 1779) and several museums related to the history …   Useful english dictionary

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  • Ironbridge — a town near Telford in Shropshire, England, which was an early centre of the Industrial Revolution. It has the first major iron bridge in the world (opened in 1779) and several industrial museums related to the Industrial Revolution including a… …   Universalium

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  • Ironbridge and Broseley railway station — was a railway station with two through platforms on the Severn Valley Railway Line in Shropshire, England. The station was on a section of the Severn Valley Line north of Bridgnorth and was demolished in 1966 to provide car parking space within… …   Wikipedia

  • Ironbridge Power Station — Infobox UK power station static static image caption=Ironbridge/Buildwas Power Station os grid reference=SJ653037 latitude=52.63005 longitude= 2.511999 country=England region=West Midlands shire county=Shropshire operator=E.ON fuel=Coal fired… …   Wikipedia

  • Ironbridge Gorge — Infobox World Heritage Site WHS = Ironbridge Gorge State Party = Type = Cultural Criteria = i, ii, iv, vi ID = 371 Region = Europe and North America Year = 1986 Session = 10th Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/371 Location map Shropshire… …   Wikipedia

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