World’s first cast iron bridge, at Ironbridge, Shropshire, England, seen against the light. Some believe this view shows the profile of the bridge’s founder, Abraham Darby III (1750-1789) who, as a Quaker, would not allow anyone to depict him. The bridge was forged and constructed at ironworks in neighbouring Coalbrookdale and opened to road traffic on 1 January 1781.

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Ironbridge, Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire, England: as a Quaker, a member of the Religious Society of Friends, the 18th century ironmaster Abraham Darby III would not permit anyone to depict him. However, some believe they can see his profile when the metalwork of the world’s first cast iron bridge is viewed against the daylight from the banks of the River Severn. The bridge, the largest cast-iron structure of its time, was designed by the architect Thomas Farnolls Pritchard (c. 1723-1777) and was forged and constructed by Abraham Darby III (1750-1789) at the ironworks in neighbouring Coalbrookdale. It opened to road traffic on 1 January 1781.

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Size: 3872px × 2592px
Location: Ironbridge, Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire, England, UK
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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