- Ironbridge Gorge
Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Ironbridge Gorge
State Party =
Type = Cultural
Criteria = i, ii, iv, vi
ID = 371
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 1986
Session = 10th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/371 Location map
Shropshire
lat=52.62646
long=-2.48600
width=180
float=right
caption="Ironbridge Gorge shown withinShropshire " (gbmapping|SJ672033)The Ironbridge Gorge is a deep
gorge formed by the riverSevern inShropshire ,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 ofBroseley with the smaller mining town of Madeley and the growing industrial centre ofCoalbrookdale .There are two reasons the site was so useful to the early industrialists. The raw materials,
coal ,iron ore ,limestone andclay , for the manufacture ofiron ,tile s andporcelain 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 theBristol Channel . It was formed during the lastice age when the output from the previously north flowing river became trapped in a lake (Lake Lapworth ) created when theIrish Sea ice sheet dammed the river. The level of thelake 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 asIronbridge ,Coalbrookdale andCoalport (but notBuildwas orBroseley ).Conservation in the Gorge
Green Wood Centre is a national leading body on the revival of the
coppicing 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.
ee also
*
Ironbridge Gorge Museums
*Geology of Shropshire
*Ironbridge Power Station External links
* [http://www.ironbridgegorge.com/ Ironbridge Gorge.com]
* [http://www.ironbridge.info/ Ironbridge Gorge Tourism website]
* [http://www.itvlocal.com/central/news/?player=CEN_News_26&void=113448/ ITV Local footage at Ironbridge Gorge]
* [http://www.ehgp.com/aeropic/gallery/aeropic_20041026_ironbridgegorge_2_w1200.jpgPhoto of the Gorge from the air]
* [http://www.ironbridgeguide.info/ The Ironbridge Gorge] by Virtual Shropshire
* [http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=371 World Heritage Site information] fromUNESCO
* [http://www.magic.gov.uk/website/magic/viewer.htm?startTopic=magicall&chosenLayers=whsIndex&xygridref=368364,303439&startScale=34797 Map of UNESCO World Heritage Site]
* [http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/d_archaeology.asp Ironbridge Archaeology]
* [http://www.greenwoodcentre.org.uk/ Green Wood Centre]
* [http://www.severngorge.org.uk/ Severn Gorge Countryside Trust]
* [http://www2.btcv.org.uk/display/greengym/ Green Gym]
* [http://gallery.beautifulengland.net/main.php?g2_itemId=13985 Photographs of Ironbridge Gorge]
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