What is Ironbridge Gorge?<\/h2>
This was the place \u2013 a dramatic wooded ravine created by the River Severn \u2013 where the first ever cast-iron bridge was built in 1779.<\/p>
But there\u2019s a lot more to Ironbridge Gorge than simply the means of spanning it. Ironbridge, the town that sprang up beside the elegant River Severn crossing, became the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.<\/p>
The location was no accident. This is an area overflowing with natural resources such as iron ore, coal and limestone \u2013 all useful to the fledgling industries of the time. Throughout the 18th century the gorge was a hotbed of production and manufacture, from smelting lead and blowing glass to making parts for steam engines and railway wagons.<\/p>
However, the lack of a bridge over the Severn was a continual thorn in the side. The ferries that carried raw materials across the river were unable to operate whenever it was in spate or too low.<\/p>
Where is Ironbridge Gorge?<\/h2>
Located in Shropshire, it is situated near Telford, about 60 miles northwest of Birmingham and approximately 50 miles from the city of Chester.\u00a0<\/p>
Who built the bridge at Ironbridge Gorge?<\/h2>
It’s a common misconception that the Iron Bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. However, Brunel, known for his innovative engineering feats in the 19th century, came after the this bridge was completed.<\/p>
The Iron Bridge was actually initially designed by\u00a0Thomas Pritchard\u00a0but was primarily built under the direction of\u00a0Abraham Darby III and his workers, between 1777 and 1781, using iron cast in Darby’s foundries. <\/p>
When was Ironbridge Gorge granted UNESCO status?<\/h2>
It was included in the first UK tranche of World Heritage Sites<\/a> in 1986.<\/p>
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