The World’s First Cast Iron Bridge

The Iron Bridge crosses the River Severn in rural East Shropshire, England. In 1779, the world’s first cast iron bridge was built in a place called Coalbrookdale. The bridge would help to create an economic impact on the area.

Coalbrookdale is considered to be the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, where “coal power” began. Coal is still an important source of fuel.

The first estimate to build the bridge was £3200. Thomas Farnolls Pritchard first suggested to John Wilkinson about constructing the bridge in 1773.

The work began on the bridge in November of 1777. Pritchard, architect and designer of the bridge, died a month later. The bridge opened on January 1, 1781.

It would take 379 tons of iron to build the bridge. The project actually was more expensive than what was first thought. Abraham Derby III built the famous Iron Bridge. The bridge crosses the River Severn with a span of about 100 feet, or about 30 meters.

Why build the bridge? There was only ferry travel in the area and this was dangerous for the times. Also, there were areas nearby that were rich in coal deposits. Coal production was big business and important for economic growth in heavily industrialized locations.

The village that the bridge was constructed in was called Ironbridge. It immediately began to grow. The bridge did survive through the floods of 1795. Flooding is an annual problem in the area.

Iron Bridge soon became an icon and a symbol for the Industrial Revolution, and all that the era represented. Many artists have tried to portray the Severn Gorge and its scenic landscape.