From tomorrow, members of the public will be invited to view restoration work taking place to the famous Iron Bridge over the River Severn in Shropshire. An 80m long visitor walkway will open beside what is the world’s first cast iron bridge, featuring portholes through which you can peer and displays explaining the techniques currently being used to save the bridge.

 

English Heritage started a £3.6M project in November to clean, conserve, repair and reinforce different elements of the structure. These include the iron radials and braces that hold the bridge together, deck plates and wedges and the main arch itself. The whole structure will also be repainted.

 

The walkway will remain open every day until the end of August, from 10am until 4pm. Entry is free, although donations to support the conservation work are encouraged. A series of tours of the bridge work are also on offer on selected dates throughout the summer.

 

Iron Bridge was erected in 1779 and was the first single span arch bridge in the world to be made of cast iron. Surveys carried out by English Heritage revealed that the structure is under threat from cracking due to stresses in the ironwork, ground movement and an earthquake in the 19th Century.

 

The charity’s historic property director Liz Page said the conservation of Iron Bridge promises to “save this pioneering symbol of the Industrial Revolution for future generations to learn from and enjoy.”

 

 

 

 

 

(Photos: English Heritage)