Ironbridge is a settlement beside the River Severn in the parish of Madeley, part of the New town of Telford, in Shropshire, England. It is located within the Ironbridge Gorge, a few kilometers south of Telford Town Centre.
The town grew up beside, and takes its name from The Iron Bridge, a 30 metre (100 foot) Cast iron bridge that was built across the river there in 1779.
The area around the town is often described as 'The Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution', because it was there that 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 in 1779, and since then the town has grown.
[image] By the 19th century, the town had had many well-known visitors including Benjamin Disraeli, but by the mid-20th century the town was in decline. In 1986 though, the town became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has become a tourist attraction. Most industries in the town are now tourist related; however, the Merrythought Teddy Bear company (established in 1931) is still manufacturing in Ironbridge.
An Annual Coracle Regatta is held in August on the River Severn at Ironbridge, along with many other events throughout the year.
| Settlements on the River Severn between Llandrinio and Ironbridge (heading downstream) | ||
| Llandrinio | Ford | Montford | Shrewsbury | Uffington | Atcham | Wroxeter | Cressage | Buildwas | Ironbridge | ||
| Settlements on the River Severn between Ironbridge and Bewdley (heading downstream) | ||
| Ironbridge | Coalport | Bridgnorth | Hampton & Hampton Loade (chain ferry) | Highley | Upper Arley | Bewdley | ||
| River Severn, UK | ||
| Administrative areas: Powys | Shropshire | Worcestershire | Gloucestershire | Flows into: Bristol Channel Towns: Llanidloes | Newtown | Welshpool | Shrewsbury | Bridgnorth | Bewdley Stourport | Worcester | Tewkesbury | Gloucester | Berkeley | Chepstow | Bristol Major tributaries: Rea Brook | River Perry | River Tern | River Vyrnwy | River Stour | River Teme | Upper Avon | Lower Avon | River Wye Linked canals: Staffordshire and Worcestershire | Birmingham and Worcester | Droitwich Herefordshire and Gloucestershire | Thames and Severn | Coalport | Gloucester and Sharpness Major crossings: Welsh Bridge | English Bridge | Ironbridge | Hampton Loade (chain ferry) | Severn Tunnel | Severn crossing (Severn Bridge) | ||
| Longest UK rivers: 1. Severn 2. Thames 3. Trent 4. Aire 5. Great Ouse 6. Wye 7. Tay 8. Spey 9. Nene 10. Clyde 11. Tweed 12. Eden | ||
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