The Iron Bridge: Symbol of the Industrial RevolutionThe first bridge ever to be built of iron, in 1779, is perhaps the most important industrial monument in Britain. The bridge not only changed the pattern of communications in the area, it attracted thousands of sightseers, many from overseas; for no structure of its time so caught the public imagination. The authors produced the first edition to mark the bicentenary in 1979, explaining the conception, design and construction of the bridge, the technological background, the people involved, its effect and its social impact. However, in the two decades since then, so much new evidence has come to light that they have now produced a completely re-written new account. The story of the iron bridges built in the half century after 1781 has changed dramatically, and this book identifies nearly twice as many as the first edition. Sir Neil Cossons is now Chairman of English Heritage, while Dr Trinder has retired from full-time university teaching to concentrate on research and writing. |
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Abraham Darby Abraham Darby III abutments American bridge aqueduct Arch Bridges architect Benthall bridge construction Bridge Designs bridge-building Bridges of Shropshire Britain British Broseley Builders building Buildwas built Burdon Butterley Butterley Company carried cast cast-iron Cast-Iron Bridges century Civil Engineers Coalbrookdale Coalbrookdale Company Coalport crossing Cyfarthfa Darby's Demolished Eddowes's Salopian Journal Ellesmere Canal England erected February footbridge foundry Grid reference Hadfield Historic Bridges History of Iron Horseley Hutton Industrial Archaeology Industrial Archaeology Review Industrial Revolution Iron Bridge Ironbridge Gorge Museum J.G. James John Rennie July June London Madeley masonry arch Menai Newcomen Society October opened Paine's Park patent Pont-y-Cafnau Pontcysyllte proprietors railway bridges remains replaced ribs River road Ruddock Samuel Severn Gorge Shrewsbury Chronicle Shropshire span spandrels Staffordshire structure Sunderland Bridge suspension bridge Thomas Farnolls Pritchard Thomas Telford Thomas Wilson timber Tontine Transactions Trentham Trinder trough truss trustees Viaduct Walker William Hazledine William Jessop Worlitz wrought-iron