English Heritage revamps ‘most important bridge in world’

    Iron Bridge, Shropshire, English Heritage
    The Iron Bridge in Shropshire is to be given a £1.25m overhaul by English Heritage Credit: English Heritage/Stewert Writtle

    English Heritage is to undertake its single largest conservation project with a major repair of ‘the most important bridge in the world’, the Iron Bridge in Shropshire.

    Erected in 1779 over the River Severn in an area which was industrial powerhouse in the 18th century, the bridge was the first single-span arch bridge in the world to be made out of cast iron.

    However Britain’s best-known Industrial Revolution monument is suffering from cracking so English Heritage is to pump £1.25m into repairing the bridge, which represented a turning point in British engineering as cast iron became widely used in the construction of bridges and buildings.

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    The Iron Bridge is suffering from cracking Credit: English Heritage/S Writtle

    The overhaul will see the the bridge’s iron work and stone abutments examined and repaired, and the cast iron elements will be carefully cleaned and conserved. The bridge will also be repainted.

    The Iron Bridge remained in full use for more 150 years by ever-increasing traffic, and was finally closed to vehicles in 1934 when it was designated an Ancient Monument. The whole area of Iron Bridge Gorge is designated a World Heritage Site in 1986.

    English Heritage chief executive Kate Mavor said: “Iron Bridge is one of the wonders of the modern world. An iconic symbol of the Industrial Revolution, it is arguably the most important bridge ever built and without date, one of the most important sites in our care. This conservation project will ensure that both its revolutionary structure and the story those cast iron arches and beams tell, will continue to inspire us for generations to come.”

    The bridge had a far-reaching impact on on the local society and economy. It was always intended as a monument to the achievements of Shropshire ironmasters as well as a river crossing – it was an advertisement that gave their ironworks an edge over their rivals.

    Work on the bridge is expected to start in January 2017.

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