Ironbridge Gorge

It was here that Quaker Abraham Darby developed the technique of smelting iron using coke instead of charcoal, allowing a much cheaper production of iron. His grandson built the world's first cast-iron bridge as a symbol of the Industrial Revolution. It was completed in 1781, and is one of the few still standing.

There are 10 attractions in this area, and since we are here for two weeks, we bought "annual passports" so we could see them all. It is a huge savings of £26.50 per person, compared to paying separate admission fees.

Today we visited the Ironbridge Gorge Museum to learn about the history of the area. Ironbridge is on the River Severn, and is rich in all the materials needed for iron production. Materials were hauled in trows, powered by wind when possible, or pulled by horses. The river floods periodically, and in the museum, there is a high-water mark. You can see drains in the floors so the water can escape easily.

The bridge is being worked on so it is covered by plastic. So I took a picture of a painting.Read more