THE ICONIC Iron Bridge in Shropshire, England, has been lit up as part of a £3.6 million conservation project. The structure is the first bridge in the world to be made of iron and as the forebear of modern metal framed buildings, is the worldwide symbol of the industrial revolution.
Source: Iconic Iron Bridge is brought to life with light – Lux Review
When the sun shines, there is nothing to beat a British holiday. Beautiful landscape, charming buildings, amazing history, great food and easy transport. No problematic waits for foreign flights.
Source: Prepare for the great staycation in this green and pleasant land, says TIM NEWARK
WHERE does Sydney, London and New York have to thank for their iconic architecture? Answer: Telford. Well, nearby village Ironbridge Gorge to be more specific, where in 1779 the world’s first iron …
Source: You can’t help but be in ore of Shropshire’s engineering history in Ironbridge
The United Kingdom has some of the world’s finest bridges. Of course, most people think of Westminster Bridge, London Bridge, or Tower Bridge when it comes to the country’s engineering marvels, but there are plenty of fantastic bridges outside of London. Designed by the very names that made plenty of London’s famous landmarks, these bridges are certainly worthy of your attention. From the 18th century to more recent structures, we’ve picked out ten of our favorites from outside of London and all over Britain.
Source: Britain’s Iconic Bridges: Top 10 Engineering Marvels in Britain
The world’s first iron bridge, spanning a gorge in an English county, was re-opened Monday night after a 4.6-million dollar restoration project.
UK – Ironbridge Gorge
Did you know there is an UNESCO World Heritage Site just 35 miles from Birmingham
The Great Barrier Reef, Machu Picchu, Vatican City and the Grand Canyon hold the same title across the globe but can visit these sites right on the doorstep.
This is because Ironbridge was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, the place that changed the world forever.
And the museums here really bring this period of history to life for all ages and show just how important this area is to our lives today.
There’s also a way you can save hundreds of pounds on tickets too, scroll down for more information.
Be sure to check prices and opening times ahead of visiting to avoid disappointment.
1. Blists Hill Victorian Town
Legges Way, Madeley, Telford TF7 5UD
This is a Victorian town where all the townsfolk chat about their lives, their work, the food they eat and where they liked to shop.
What makes it extra special is the fact that your first stop is Lloyds Bank where you can exchange your money into old coins to spend throughout the town.
Read more from source: 11 amazing things to do in Ironbridge and Telford
UK – Ironbridge Gorge
The iconic Iron Bridge is set to get year round illumination thanks to a Telford & Wrekin Council fund to mark Telford’s 50th anniversary.
The world famous bridge the central landmark of the Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site, is set to get a new lighting scheme that will allow the bridge to be fully illuminated year all round as well as feature the latest in lighting effects and colour projections to light the bridge on special national and local events.
Telford & Wrekin Council is funding the new lighting installation of the bridge a Scheduled Monument and Listed Building, which would allow it to be fully lit throughout the year.
The permanent bridge lighting scheme follows a trial in 2015 when the Iron Bridge was illuminated as one of the world’s outstanding cultural landmarks during the Night of Heritage Light.
The new system would be permanent and allow the bridge’s east and west sides also to be lit together with additional lighting downstream. The lighting scheme will have the ability to use different colours, levels of lighting and special effects for different events.
Source: Iron Bridge to get year round illumination thanks to Telford 50 Legacy fund | Shropshire Live
UK – Ironbridge Gorge
English Heritage is hoping to raise £25,000 towards a £3.6m project for vital repair work on Shropshire’s Iron Bridge.
The charity that looks after the world’s first iron bridge has started a crowd-funding campaign to raise funds to help conserve it.
English Heritage is hoping to raise £25,000 towards a £3.6m project for vital repair work on Shropshire’s Iron Bridge, which surveys have shown is at risk of cracking.
Following a one million euro (£880,000) donation from a German foundation, that is the amount left that is needed, the charity says.
Kate Mavor, English Heritage’s chief executive, said: “The Iron Bridge is one of the most important – if not the most important – bridges ever built.
“It sits in the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and is open to everyone to visit, for free, every day of the year.”
UK – Ironbridge Gorge
A cultural foundation in Germany has stepped in to repair England’s historic Iron Bridge.
The UK’s Iron Bridge is more than just a pretty landmark. Built in 1779, it was the world’s first metal bridge, a major milestone in engineering history. Like many aging pieces of infrastructure, though, it’s in dire need of repair—and the funds to shore it up are coming from an unexpected place. According to The Times, a German foundation has pledged to pay for the conservation project as a way to improve relations between England and Germany in the wake of Brexit.
Based in Hamburg, the Hermann Reemtsma Foundation normally funds cultural projects in Germany, but decided to work with the UK’s charitable trust English Heritage to save the Industrial Revolution landmark as a way to reinforce the cultural bond between the two countries.
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UK – Ironbridge Gorge
Scaffolding is continuing to spring up at one of Shropshire’s most iconic structures as part of a major restoration project.
Workers have been on site at the Iron Bridge, preparing the structure for the restoration work.
The project, the largest of its kind by English Heritage, will stop cracking on the bridge in the centre of Ironbridge.
The world’s first iron bridge was completed in 1779 and opened to traffic in 1801. It became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1986 and remains an iconic feature of Britain’s industrial past.
But after standing for centuries, the bridge is in need to repairs to cracking, caused by ground movements.
The Iron Bridge was the first single-span arch bridge in the world to be made of cast iron and was a turning point in engineering.
UK – Ironbridge Gorge
For those with an interest in engineering and industrial history, Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, England, could be the centre of the universe. It was here that the Industrial Revolution first took hold, and the area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a mainstay of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.
Among 35 historic industrial sites and 10 Ironbridge Gorge Museums is an intriguing subterranean passageway known as the Tar Tunnel. The origins of the 18th century structure lie in a major infrastructure project proposed by the industrialist William Reynolds.
Reynolds’ plan called for a canal tunnel to connect the lower mine galleries around Blists Hill with the Coalport Canal, which ran alongside the River Severn.
UK – Ironbridge Gorge
Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge Museums will celebrate international World Heritage Day today.
Set within the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site in Telford, visitors to the museums on Tuesday, 18th April can join in a range of family fun activities as their Easter holiday programme continues. At Enginuity you can meet a number of mini-beasts at the Exotic Zoo where there will be daily shows with snakes, spiders and other exotic creatures. At Blists Hill Victorian Town the animal theme continues as visitors are able to see some farmyard favourites including pigs, sheep and baby chicks. The highlight will be the heavy horses on display with harnessing and tail plaiting demonstrations. For those with a creative side there are plenty of craft activities available at Coalport China Museum and Jackfield Tile Museum.
UK – Ironbridge Gorge
Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet is being asked to give the green light for a plan to manage the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site to be submitted to both Central Government and UNESCO.
The Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Siteis widely recognised as being significant at a local, national and international level.
It is one of Britain’s first World Heritage Sites, inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986 and has been hailed at the second most highly recommended World Heritage Site by contributors to the travel critique website Trip Advisor
It is a requirement of UNESCO that all World Heritage Sites have a Management Plan in place to ensure the effective protection and management of these global treasures for future generations.
In accordance with UNESCO best practice,the preparation of the plan has been overseen by the multi-agency Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site Steering Group.
