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Ironbridge Gorge

Ironbridge is known throughout the world as the symbol of the Industrial Revolution. It contains all the elements of progress that contributed to the rapid development of this industrial region in the 18th century, from the mines themselves to the railway lines. Nearby, the blast furnace of Coalbrookdale, built in 1708, is a reminder of the discovery of coke. The bridge at Ironbridge, the world's first bridge constructed of iron, had a considerable influence on developments in the fields of technology and architecture.

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The Ironbridge Gorge was the innovative center for iron making during the First Industrial Revolution in England. In 1709 iron production became serious here after Abraham Darby I started using the plentiful coke instead of more costly charcoal to fuel his furnace to produce iron. Subsequently, iron, tiles and porcelain were made here on an industrial scale.

The gorge takes its name from its famous Iron Bridge, the first iron bridge of its kind in the world. 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. The deep gorge was formed by the river Severn in Shropshire. The area was rich in raw materials, and the river made transport easy. 

Remains of the industrial era are spread out over 3,6 kilometers in the Severn Valley. They include mines, factories, warehouses, canals, railroads, housing and public buildings. They are concentrated in five spots:

- Coalbrookdale (home of the coke iron production technique & Darby residences)

- Ironbridge (the bridge and two blast furnaces)

- Hay Brook Valley (Hay Inclined Plane and Victorian Town Open Air Museum)

- Jackfield (tile factories and port)

- Coalport (porcelaine and tile facturing) 

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/ironbridgegorge.html