It seemed like a good way for the Farrells to mark the winter solstice – a little wander through Ironbridge town and over the bridge itself. It was anyway a glorious day, and the bridge was looking its festive best in its ochre-red livery.
A fine exemplar of Shropshire’s heritage.
Those of you who come here often will know that this is reputedly the world’s first cast iron bridge, built by Abraham Darby III and opened for the carriage trade and other toll paying traffic in the New Year of 1781.
Of course, as was intended all along, it became the sightseeing phenomenon of the age. Everyone who was anyone had to come, look and pronounce on this pioneering wonder. The Coalbrookdale Company of ironmasters were naturally well prepared. They had also built the Tontine inn, a smart hostelry at the foot of the bridge.
Here it is with its mint green shutters, and still open for business. Also if you squint, you can ‘see’ the church clock is just striking noon. Can you hear the chimes ringing out on the cold December air?
*
The middle of the bridge is a good spot to stop for views of the Severn Gorge, now a World Heritage Site.
Once, this upstream view would have been filled with busyness. There were boat builders’ yards along the left bank. Then there was the river traffic itself, Severn trows, the great sailing barges up from Gloucester and Bristol, putting in at the Coalbrookdale Company’s warehouse, just visible at the river’s vanishing point. The trows brought in luxury goods: fine glassware, casks of port, Madeira, Spanish wines, sugar, molasses, serge cloth, the latest hats and bonnets, peach wood for cabinet making, blocks of marble, tobacco, salt fish.
On the return voyage the trows took on consignments of pig iron and castings of every kind, in particular the iron cauldrons, latterly known as missionary pots. They came in all sizes from the family porridge pot to large scale containers for industrial processes. They were rarely, if ever, deployed for the braising of missionaries.
This downstream view suggests unchanging tranquillity, but think again. Come the February flood season, the force of water rushing down from Wales and through the Gorge can be devastating. Even these days, with flood defences in place, there can be extensive overflow. The Great Flood of 1795 saw every Severn bridge damaged or taken out. Only the Iron Bridge remained unscathed.
Times of drought brought other perils. Large sandbanks formed and well loaded barges could find themselves grounded, often for weeks at a time. Such eventualities were catered for by a string of inns along both banks. And these were not only places of respite for the stranded. The riverside taverns were also said to be the haunt of industrial spies, out to gather company secrets over a jug or two of ale.
On Wednesday noon, 21st Dec. 2022, the Wharfage slumbered in the winter sunshine. There was barely a sign of a Christmas shopper. No coach and horses clattering up the hill to the Tontine. No carts unloading and loading precious goods in transit. No crowds of merchants’ clerks checking the cargo lists, or shouts of boat masters cajoling their crews. Or the pounding of the steam hammer at the riverside ironworks, that caused the men who worked it to grow deaf; the thud and thud and thud rebounding down the Gorge. Some things change for the better.
Happy New Year One And All
And whatever our beliefs, or lack of them, a strong prayer for more sanity and truth will not come amiss
Tish Farrell 
I really hope that 2023 will be the year we finally make it to Ironbridge. Your post helps keep the intention uppermost. And if you think a prayer for sanity and truth will work … let’s do it!
Definitely up for a joint prayer, Margaret. And may make it to Ironbridge in 2023.
What an interesting bridge and a lovely town! Nice to visit when it’s quiet and to be in the sunshine. Praying all the best for you and yours in 2023, Tish. ❤
Reciprocating those kind good wishes, Janet. All the very best to you and your family.
Many thanks.
How interesting that it was so quiet, there are some nice little shops there. We both like Ironbridge and it is perfect for a winter stroll. And I will definitely join you and Margaret in praying! Please let 2023 be a Good Year!
Excellent joining in, Jude. More power to us and our biggest hopes. Happy New Year, both.
That is an amazing bridge Tish. Thanks for the beautiful photos of it and the town.
Many thanks, Anne.
😊
Happy new year! Nice to see some pics of the old bridge again.
Glad you like the pix. Happy New Year to you too.
Always enjoy the photos of Ironbridge. What a great piece of the world.
Cheers, Thom. All the best to you for 2023.
And you, Tish.
I love that bridge. I love that it’s not just any old bridge, that it has class and style and more than a little bit of art.
That’s most apprecitively assessed 🙂
Wonderful trip around Ironbridge with you. I went years ago..30 plus and have always wanted to return. I almost did a school trip there from London. But now can just put it on the 2023 list! Thanks and Happy New Year!
So happy this post inspired an Ironbirdge addition to the 2023 list. All best wishes to you.
I love the way you’ve conjured up the scenes of the past through your words, while sharing those of the present through your photos 🙂 I remember childhood visits to see the bridge when my grandmother lived in Shrewsbury but I’ve not been since. I must put that right one day!
thank you to for this sojourn with commentary spiced with fun facts! Happy New Year to the Farrells x
Happy New Year, Laura. Warmest good wishes.
Lovely photos, Tish, as always.
Let’s hope that the coming year is softer on us all! Best wishes….Sarah
Thank you for those very good wishes, Sarah. All the best to you.
The Ironbridge is a beauty. Thank you for the photos and the history. Happy New Year, Tish.
All the best to you, Jennie.
🙂
I love elegant bridges. We have some that are probably copies of yours, intentionally I’m sure. Even our stone bridges were direct from England to New England.