The Ironbridge Gorge is the site of the first ever iron bridge, which seems an amazing coincidence! I assume it must have had another name before then? The bridge was finished in 1779 and was built as an advertisement for iron technology. The whole area is promoted as the "Birthplace of Industry" and is one of the earliest sites of iron production, since the 1500's, because of the existence of all the essential resources in one place. It was here that the first purpose-built coke smelting furnace was developed in the early 1700's.
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| The iron bridge, now just for pedestrians. |
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| The teddy bear shop |
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| Inside the Museum of Iron |
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| Ironbridge |
