Ironbridge
Ironbridge photos (19 available)
Ironbridge maps (2 available)
Map of Shropshire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of Shropshire
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Ironbridge books (2 available)
- 6 photos on Ironbridge appear in 3 Frith books - View photos of Ironbridge
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Ironbridge and Shropshire
Ironbridge memories
Read and share memories of Ironbridge and Shropshire inspired by Frith photos
River side living
As a child who was born in 1924 I lived with my family (name of Rogers) just down stream of the bridge I attended the "Blue School"and St.Lukes Church as did all my Brothers and Sisters climbing the 100 or more steps past the chuch to go to school twice a day belting home at midday down the steps three at a time home for something to eat. I would say that we had a happy childhood although we were very poor I remember Rector Roberts and Mr Wragg Headmaster at the school with great affection. Every year we all attended church anniversary all the girls dressed in frilly dresses made by my Mother who was ...read more here
Contributed by Ethel Jones
Shropshire memories
River side living
As a child who was born in 1924 I lived with my family (name of Rogers) just down stream of the bridge I attended the "Blue School"and St.Lukes Church as did all my Brothers and Sisters climbing the 100 or more steps past the chuch to go to school twice a day belting home at midday down the steps three at a time home for something to eat. I would say that we had a happy childhood although we were very poor I remember Rector Roberts and Mr Wragg Headmaster at the school with great affection. Every year we all attended church anniversary all the girls dressed in frilly dresses made by my Mother who was ...read more here
A memory of Ironbridge contributed by Ethel Jones
Madeley - as it was
I was born in 1949 in Victoria Road, Madeley and have many memories of life as it was in the 1950's onwards. I remember Jones' buses, Pooles the cobblers, Carters, Stodd's the Drapers, Shums the chemist, and most memorable of all, Nellie Oakes' shop in Park Avenue. It was always a delight to visit there to purchase four chews for a penny and sherbert and liquorice. The small shedlike store was packed with boxes of stock but Nellie knew every item she had. Vinegar was kept in a wooden barrell outside.
My Grandfather, the late William (Billy) Jones and his mates used to sit on the wall down the gully, (a narrow lane, which ...read more here
A memory of Madeley contributed by First Name Last Name
E M Goliah
My Grandmother Mrs E M Goliah had a general stores on Broadway I believe it was sold circa 1956 due to ill health, I believe it was an Elizabethan style property, and was next door to Cheadles, the 'clock' shop. The property no longer exists due to 'redevelopment'
A memory of Shifnal contributed by tim goliah
Extracts From Ironbridge & Shropshire books
The boat in this picture, probably a shallow draft Severn trow, would have attracted little or no attention from the locals. Not so in 1787. The village was buzzing with excitement as crowds gathered to watch ironmaster John Wilkinson make a fool of himself. He had announced his intention to launch an iron boat onto the Severn near the bridge. Everyone knew iron was heavier than water, so the boat must sink. It didn’t.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".
This picture affords us a view across Ironbridge. Here we get an idea of just how steep the limestone slopes are upon which the town is built, and how narrow the gorge is through which the river flows.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".
Water power played an important role in the development of the factory system, for it was harnessed to drive machinery in cotton and woollen mills alike. Water was also used for pumping and lifting in mines and for crushing ore, and Abraham Darby used vast amounts of water to work the bellows of his blast furnace at Coalbrookdale.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".
It was Abraham Darby’s partners, Quaker merchants from Bristol, who put up most of the £3500 needed to establish Coalbrookdale Ironworks. Darby chose the location with care; supplies of coal, iron ore, and water were readily available, and there was access to the Bristol Channel ports by way of the Severn.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".
In 1779 Abraham Darby II’s Coalbrookdale Ironworks cast the ribs of this, the world’s first iron bridge. It is a single-arched structure weighing 380 tons, with a span of 100 ft and an overall length of 196 ft. Today the bridge is restricted to pedestrian traffic only.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".