Everything about Ironbridge Gorge totally explained
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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).
Conservation in the Gorge
Green Wood Centre is a national leading body on the revival of the Coppice 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.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Ironbridge Gorge'.
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