The Iron Bridge
"The Coalbrookdale Bridge, built 1779", ©1999 photo Elroy Christenson
This is the earliest cast bridge ever constructed. It was commissioned and partially designed by the owner of the local iron works, Abraham Darby III as a way to show how iron could be used for other purposes. Thomas Pritchard who worked for Darby is given the architectural credit for the design. Although designed in 1777 and finally erected in the three month period of 1779 it still stands as usuable bridge for tourists but vehicles are banned.
