Recently we visited one of my favourite places, the little town of Ironbridge in Shropshire. I've been looking back at photographs to see when we last visited and it seems to have been in February 2017 when I took the photo below, although we did pass through after our visit to Coalbrookdale in March last year because I remember that the bridge was covered over.
Designed by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard the iron bridge at Ironbridge, an iconic monument of Britain's industrial heritage, was completed in 1779 and opened in 1781. After a detailed survey it was found that the bridge, which is cared for by English Heritage, was under threat of cracking and needed urgent repairs to safeguard its future. Project Iron Bridge began in Autumn 2017 and for most of last year the bridge was covered over as restoration work was done
Both the cast iron and masonry elements of the bridge have been repaired. The entire structure has been cleaned and repainted and it is now restored to its original red-brown colour just as it was shown in a painting of 1780 by William Williams. I'm not sure of copyright so here is a link to the painting.
After walking over the bridge and taking a few more photos we had a wander around a few of the shops.
It's been years since I visited. I like the red brown colour. I did enjoy our visit to that area.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fascinating and beautiful area isn't it?:)
DeleteIronbridge is one of my favorite places too!
ReplyDeleteThere is something special about it:)
DeleteI saw this on the On Show at the official opening the other night. I do like the new colour, it makes it stand out and 'show off' a bit. I really must put this on my 'to visit' list.
ReplyDeleteIt is well worth a visit as is the whole area and all the museums there are fascinating. I didn't see it on television, I wonder who officially opened it?:)
DeleteLike many things, I like it returned to its original color. And what a lovely design it is.
ReplyDeleteDelightful place to wander!
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It is a lovely place to mooch around especially at this time of year when it is not so crowded:)
DeleteWhat a lovely day out. Have only been to Ironbridge once and really enjoyed the day. I really want to go back though as one of my ancestors made clay pipes in Broseley and I would so like to see the pipe museum there as it was closed on the day we went.
ReplyDeleteEnglish Heritage have made a lovely job of restoring the bridge and I personally like the new colour.
Thank you RR, it was a lovely day out and I'm glad to have seen the bridge with its new colour. Broseley always looks an interesting place with all its alleyways or jitties, we used to call them gennels in Derbyshire also ginnels further north. I haven't been to the pipe museum, it would be interesting for you to visit and see what your ancestor worked at everyday. I expect it was very hard work:)
DeleteSounds like a wonderful day out. I am a fan of the original colour, you managed to get some great shots from different angles.
ReplyDeleteThank you. We took photos from both sides of the river, it always looks good from any angle as it is quite an elegant bridge:)
DeleteIt looks as if you had an interesting day out especially as you could see the restored bridge now painted in the original colour.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda, yes it was a lovely day out, it's only about an hour from here so just right for a longer visit. The bridge looks good although quite different:)
DeleteI can't recall ever having been there, which is odd because I used to visit Shropshire regularly at one time. The rusty red looks perfect to my eye.
ReplyDeleteIt is well worth a visit if you are ever in the region, all the industerial museums are interesting and close to wonderful countryside too:)
DeleteHavn’t been for years.Must put it on my to do list.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting little place, I love the way it nestles in the river valley and spreads up the hill:)
DeleteWhat a pretty bridge!
ReplyDeleteIt is elegant isn't it?
DeleteGosh it looks so different in that rusty brown coat! The grey echoed the river but I expect the brown brings in the landscape. I'll have to have a trip to have a look in person. 😊
ReplyDeleteOh, do visit it is such a lovely place and so many interesting museums in the area too:)
DeleteI think it looks quite smart now, it looks good even though 'rusty brown' doesn't sound so good!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the true colour of the paint used is? It does look quite smart I wonder what people thought of it when it was first built it would have been quite something to see spanning the river:)
DeleteI think I like the red Rosie. It has been quite a few years since Olly and I have been to visit Ironbridge, must return soon. xxx
ReplyDeleteI hope you and Olly get to see the bridge on your next visit to Salop, I like the red too:)
DeleteI think I actually like the new colour best. I've a photo "somewhere", which I've taken on one of our visits to UK. May have to bring my big camera with me this year to get lots of photos, rather than my pocket one, which I took a few years ago. Thanks for sharing & take care.
ReplyDeleteI like the red too, I sometimes feel cluttered by my bigger camera but often regret not taking it as the smaller pocket one seems not to take photos as well. It sounds as if you are on your way to the IK this year?:)
DeleteYou've beaten me to it! We are still waiting for a sunny day when we are free to go and see the bridge. From the pictures I've seen - including yours, which are lovely and much better than many others I've looked at - I really like the new colour but it's caused a great deal of controversy locally. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Mrs T. We visited just after New Year when the Christmas decorations were still up. Luckily it was a dry day though cold. I can imagine the differing views on the bridge's new colour. Looking at the blue/grey it does look part of the surrounding area but the red/brown too looks good, I expect people will get used to it. I hope you get to see for yourself soon:)
DeleteI live the 'new' colour, to me it rests much more sympathetically with the background.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jayne, I rather like it too:)
DeleteThat is an amazing bridge. I wandered over here from Pat's blog (Weaver of grass). Perhaps when I visit England this year I'll get to see your bridge in person.
ReplyDeleteThank you and welcome Granny Sue, it is an amazing bridge to see and there are so many other places/museums to see in the area which reflect Britain's industrial past in the midlands:)
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