For this week’s Thursday’s Special Paula is asking us to focus on traces of the past. For those of you who have not seen my earlier posts on the Ironbridge Gorge, this bridge was the first to be made from cast iron, and in a single arch that spans the River Severn in Shropshire. It crosses the Severn Gorge just a few miles from my house, and is a World Heritage Site.
The height of the bridge was dictated by Quaker Ironmaster, Abraham Darby’s desire to show off – not only to prove the versatility and potential of cast iron, but also to build the first bridge on the the Severn that would allow the river’s big sailing barges (Severn trows) to pass under with out lowering their sail masts. One up on all the river’s stone bridges then! And what a sales (sails) pitch it was too, for people to see his bridge with a fully rigged sailing barge passing beneath it.
He also built the bridge in one of the most spectacular parts of the Gorge, and on the site of a treacherous ferry crossing. Before the bridge was built people had to cross between the two industrial settlements of Broseley and Coalbrookdale in a coracle, an ancient skin covered craft that was used by local poachers.
The bridge itself is a curious construction. If you look closely at the iron framework you can see that although Abraham Darby was breaking new ground (and in its day the Iron Bridge was definitely a world wonder), the building techniques include the kind of joints that people would expect to see in carpentry: mortise and tenon joints and dovetails.
It is hard to know if Darby was erring on the side of caution by sticking to tried and tested construction methods, or simply being innovative in ways that weren’t too innovative for people’s sensibilities. After all, one of the best ways to make people accept and welcome the new, is to start from something they already know and recognise. In such ways does the past follow us into the future.
copyright 2016 Tish Farrell
Tish Farrell 
I couldn’t ask for better than an 18th century cast iron arch bridge. I often translate bridge designs so this is interesting for me from various aspects. Your photos are wonderful Tish, both of them. What a treat! Thank you so much for this entry.
That’s fascinating to know, Paula, that you often translate bridge designs.Just goes to show how many strings to her bow a linguist must have – to cover such important technicalities. Happy Thursday!
Such a beautiful bridge and your photographs give it real justice, Tish.
Thank you, Sarah.
Ah, marvellous! Brings back memories of visiting that area….
A very solid and strong looking bridge.
Love bridges and love cast-iron….
Tese two photos fascinate me!
Lovely. I remember the original piece you wrote. And new photos if I’m not mistaken? Or newish at any rate.
Yes, newish 🙂
Great perspectives on the bridge, photographic and written.
Thank you, Meg
A trace of the past that helped to create the present.
Absolutely, Gilly.
A really impressive bridge, Tish. It’s really stood the test of time. 🙂
It has had a bit of help from a massive civil engineering project that consolidated the footings along the banks. By the 20th century the arch was pulling itself apart.
A very unusual bridge – glad it has been restored.
It’s quite elegant and graceful in its own way.
I was there only a few weeks ago, for the FIRST time. How can that be? What an interesting place and so well preserved, but like us all, a little rough at the edges. Interesting to muse how the world has changed since the arrival of this gem of courageous invention. Visit only slightly marred by hundreds of bikers and the finish of a half-marathon. The bridge has seen everything of course.
Indeed it has seen a few sights. One of them was the annual duck race in the 1980’s when hundreds of little yellow plastic bath-time ducks were released upstream. Quackers!
A BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE, AND A BEAUTIFUL ROSE NAMED FOR HIM, BY DAVID AUSTIN, ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAVID AUSTIN ROSES 🙂
Hello, Mitch. And thank you for that info. I ought to know. David Austin Roses – also in our territory. You would love the gardens – all his varieties set off to their best advantage.
Reblogged this on The Bridgehunter's Chronicles and commented:
A look at the first known cast iron bridge in the world. Enjoy! 🙂
Reblogged this on Sarah's Attic Of Treasures and commented:
I really enjoy stories like this. History.
Thank you, Sarah.