Ironbridge Gorge

The Ironbridge Gorge is a steep-sided valley carved by the River Severn in Shropshire. It was shaped when melting ice at the end of the last ice age burst through hills and cut a deep channel. Beneath the surface lie coal, iron ore, limestone and fireclay that early industrialists exploited. The gorge’s exposed rock layers made raw materials easy to reach. It also gave the Severn a wide, deep route to the Bristol Channel. The gorge’s name comes from the Iron Bridge, the world’s first large bridge made of iron. Built in 1779, it joined Broseley with Madeley and Coalbrookdale. These towns grew quickly because the gorge provided both raw materials and transport. The bridge became a symbol of the Industrial Revolution’s start. The area still shows how industry and landscape shaped each other. Visitors walk beside the river through woodland and grassland managed by the Severn Gorge Countryside Trust. The Green Wood Centre runs training in traditional coppicing nearby. The Iron Bridge stands at the centre of the World Heritage Site. Settlements like Coalbrookdale, Coalport, Ironbridge, Jackfield and Lightmoor line the gorge’s slopes.