UK - Ironbridge Shropshire

World Heritage Site and Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution

Feb 18, 2007

Over two hundred ago the Industrial Revolution changed the world forever. It all began in a beautiful valley in Shrophire, England and it spread around the world.

In the late 18th-century the Ironbridge Gorge, located in the Severn Valley, at the southern edge of Telford in Shropshire, began to fill with the sounds of industry. This is where the Industrial Revolution that was to spread around the world began. The structure of society was transformed from rural to industrial and people flocked from the countryside to find work in the mills and factories that were springing up.

Today peace and tranquility has taken the place of the roaring blast furnaces. and the hammering from the forges. It is an area designated by the United Nations as one of Britain’s great World Heritage Sites and although it is no longer producing iron for the world, there are still many reminders of its great Industrial Revolution.

The Silken Way is a designated walk and is an excellent introduction to the area’s ‘revolutionary’ past.It’s a pleasant stroll from Ironbridge to Coalport where the Silken Way begins. There is no better symbol of the Industrial Revolution than the magnficent Iron Bridge itself which crosses the River Severn The world’s first cast iron bridge was built at nearby Coalbrookdalein 1779 and visitors came from around the world to see it..

From the parking lot near the bridge, a path to the left is marked ‘Severn Way’. It’s a pretty tree-lined walk with the remains of old railway junctions and sleepers tucked away amongst the trees. A short walk along here leads to the Silken Way.

There are nine museums illustrate the history and the products produced in the area during the Victorian age The Ironbridge open-air museum, set in 50 acres of woodland, is particularly interesting. The bank will exchange today’s money for pre-decimal ‘old money’ which can be spent in the authentic shops, workshops and the pub. The ‘locals’, clad in Victorian dress, go about their business demonstrating everything from casting iron to candle dipping. There’s usually something cooking on the range at the Tollhouse and the smell of freshly baked bread wafts from the bakehouse. Chickens and goats are in the cottage gardens and on Saturdays there is often the opportunity to watch preparations for a local wedding. It’s a real slice of Victorian life during the Industrial Revolution.

Returning to the walk there is little to show entry to the modern world. The old mining track and abandoned railway tracks are still there. But music from a small amusement part near Telford , slightly off the trail, indicates a return to the 2lst century.

The copyright of the article UK - Ironbridge Shropshire in Historical Travel is owned by Cathy Smith. Permission to republish UK - Ironbridge Shropshire in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.