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The Ironbridge Gorge looking east towards the Iron Bridge
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The Ironbridge Gorge is a deep gorge formed by the River Severn in Shropshire, England.
Originally called the Severn Gorge, the gorge
now takes its name from its famous Iron Bridge, the first iron bridge
of its kind in the world, and a monument to the industry that began
there. The bridge was built in 1779 to link the industrial town of
Broseley with the smaller
mining town of Madeley and the growing industrial
centre of Coalbrookdale.
There are two reasons the site was so useful to the early
industrialists. The raw materials, coal, iron
ore, limestone and
clay, for the manufacture of iron, tiles and porcelain are exposed or easily mined in the gorge. The deep and
wide river allowed easy transport of products to the sea.
Formation
The gorge carries the River Severn south towards the Bristol
Channel. It was formed during the last ice age when the output from the previously
north flowing river became trapped in a lake (Lake Lapworth)
created when the Irish
Sea ice sheet dammed the river. The level of the lake rose until it was able to flow
over the hills to the south. This flow eroded a path through the
hills forming the gorge and permanently diverting the Severn
southwards.
The Gorge
parish
The Gorge is a parish of Telford and Wrekin borough. It
covers the part of Ironbridge Gorge that falls within the Telford
and Wrekin area, which is most of it, and includes settlements such
as Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale and
Coalport (but not Buildwas or Broseley). Following the
course of the former Severn Valley line the southern
side of the gorge between Ironbridge Power Station and
Coalport railway station was
absorbed into the Telford and Wrekin borough from the former
Broseley and Benthall parishes, with the whole of the village of Jackfield coming under the
Telford and Wrekin borough. This has enabled a more coordinated
approach to be made to the serious land instability issues that
threaten the World Heritage
site.
Conservation in the
Gorge
Green Wood Centre is a national leading body on the revival of
the coppicing industry
and has spent over twenty years training new coppice and woodland
workers.
Severn Gorge Countryside Trust manages most of the woodland,
grassland and other countryside within the Ironbridge Gorge World
Heritage Site, around 260 hectares (700 acres) in all. Working with
Severn Gorge Countryside Trust is BTCV's Green Gym which assist
them on woodland work.
Severn Gorge Countryside Trust and The Green Wood Centre run a
joint volunteer project enabling local people to work local land in
activities such as coppicing, scrub removal, deer fencing, step
building and woodland management. Areas where you'll be able to see
the kind of work done are Benthall Edge, Lloyds Coppice and
Captain's coppice. All within walking distance of the
Ironbridge.
See also
External
links
Coordinates: 52°37′35″N 2°29′10″W / 52.62646°N
2.48600°W / 52.62646;
-2.48600
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