The Iron Bridge crosses the River Severn,at Ironbridge Gorge, village of Ironbridge, in Shropshire, England. First in the world.

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The Iron Bridge crosses the River Severn at the Ironbridge Gorge, by the village of Ironbridge, in Shropshire, England. It was the first bridge in the world to be made out of cast iron. In the early eighteenth century the only way to cross the Severn Gorge was by ferry. A more reliable crossing was needed. In 1773, Thomas Farnolls Pritchard wrote to John Wilkinson to suggest building a bridge out of cast iron. Abraham Darby III, commissioned to cast and build the bridge. A Share was raised to reach the £3,200 needed, and Darby agreed to fund any overspend. It was thought that 300 tons of iron would be needed (costing £7 a ton), -379 tons were used, costing Darby and his company nearly £3,000. Darby bore most of the cost over-run, and was in debt for the rest of his short life.

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Size: 4095px × 4155px
Location: The Iron Bridge, Staffordshire, England
Photo credit: © Tom Hanley / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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