Last week we were in Ironbridge inspecting the restoration works on the C18th cast iron bridge that gave the town its name. People come from all over the world to see the bridge, so to find most of it shrouded in plastic would doubtless be a big disappointment. English Heritage, the conservation body whose engineers are carrying out the repairs over the next few months, thoughtfully decided to make a spectacle of their operations. Just beneath the main span they have constructed a walkway with perspex covered viewing portholes along its length. Now visitors have once-in-a-lifetime access to view the structural parts at close quarters.
And while doing this I happened to notice that, at certain angles, the portholes and their surrounds created multiple reflections. Suddenly the town appeared meshed in the dove-tailed struts and roundels of the bridge supports. It seemed fitting somehow – the town within the bridge that gave rise to it; a glimpse of the Gorge whose lucky combination of natural resources: iron ore, coal, fire clay, limestone, made the construction of the world’s first cast iron bridge in this location possible: the now quiet resort place that some call the crucible of Britain’s Industrial Revolution, a once horrifying hell-hole of pounding steam hammers, sulphurous fumes, and streams of white-hot iron.
Thursday’s Special: reflective
copyright 2018 Tish Farrell
P.S. Click on the English Heritage link above for more about the restoration project and a very good short video.
Tish Farrell 
This is quite a view. To see the structural parts is a treat, generally we don’t think about its operation. 😊
Well observed, Tish!
Thank you, Sue 🙂
Hmmm…this photo just might be a winner. You should try.
Thank you, Beverly.
Thank for not letting me down. When I saw the title, my mind immediately flew to seeing actual reflections on the bridge (yes, that’s how my mind works with words) and I wasn’t disappointed. Love the shot and, of course, the title.
janet
So glad not to let you down, Janet 😉
You never do, Tish, whether with clever title or not.
Thank you kindly, m’am.
Reflections can be bland, but this is anything but, Tish. It must be quite something to see. 🙂 🙂
All sorts going on in the bridge’s underbelly 🙂
I love this kind of two-for-the-price-of-one image, and the imagination that made a tourist plus out of a tourist negative
It’s especially marvellous when official bodies like English Heritage get creative. There were lots of staff on hand (presumably volunteers) eager to talk to people about the project – past and present colliding nicely.
That is an amazing structure and the video gave beautiful views from all angles
Glad you enjoyed the video, Pauline. Otherwise it’s quite hard to give a true impression of the bridge and its impact on the Gorge, even under wraps.
I think some of the views were caught by a drone, very impressive
Drone photography is certainly giving us a new perspective on things.
Nicely done. 🙂
Many thanks 🙂
An amazing image Tish, every time I look at it I discover something more. Have you sent a copy to English Heritage? They may well enjoy seeing this too :o)
Thank you for those very nice comments. And no, I hadn’t thought of sending it to EH.
This is the kind of photo where I don’t know where to look first Tish. What great preservation work, well done English Heritage.
Yes, hats of to them.
Very original take on the theme, and fascinating shot. Thank you, Tish.
Thank you, Paula 🙂