What is Ironbridge Gorge?
Ironbridge Gorge, in Shropshire, is often called the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. It is home to the Iron Bridge, the world's first major bridge made of cast iron, completed in 1779, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 1709, Abraham Darby I developed a method of smelting iron using coke instead of charcoal at Coalbrookdale, in the gorge. This made iron production cheaper and more efficient.
His grandson, Abraham Darby III, built the Iron Bridge across the River Severn. It was a remarkable engineering achievement that attracted visitors from across Europe.
Museums
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust runs ten museums in the area, including the Museum of Iron, the Coalport China Museum and Blists Hill Victorian Town, an open-air museum.
At Blists Hill, costumed staff demonstrate life in a Victorian town, with shops, a bank, a pub and working industries.
The Iron Bridge was restored in 2018 by English Heritage. The gorge was declared a World Heritage Site in 1986, one of the first in the UK.
Today, the area is a peaceful valley, but its industrial history shaped the modern world.