With the river providing a means of transport, the local area was an important centre of the emerging Industrial Revolution. The Ironbridge Gorge was formed at the end of the last ice age by the overflowing of Lake Lapworth, which resulted in the exposure of useful deposits of resources such as coal, iron ore, fire clay and limestone near the surface where they were readily mined. The bridge, the adjacent settlement of Ironbridge and the Ironbridge Gorge form the UNESCO Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site. After being in a poor state of repair for much of its life, extensive restoration works in the latter half of the 20th century have protected the bridge.

Tolls for pedestrians were collected until 1950, when the bridge was transferred into public ownership. In 1934 it was designated a scheduled monument and closed to vehicular traffic. The bridge crosses the Ironbridge Gorge with a main span of 100 ft 6 in (30.63 m), allowing sufficient clearance for boats to pass underneath. After initial uncertainty about the use of iron, construction took place over 2 years, with Abraham Darby III responsible for the ironworks. To cope with the instability of the banks and the need to maintain a navigable channel in the river, a single span iron bridge was proposed by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard. The geography of the deep Ironbridge Gorge, formed by glacial action during the last ice age, meant that there are industrially useful deposits of coal, iron ore, limestone and fire clay present near the surface where they are readily mined, but also that it was difficult to build a bridge across the river at this location. Its success inspired the widespread use of cast iron as a structural material, and today the bridge is celebrated as a symbol of the Industrial Revolution. Opened in 1781, it was the first major bridge in the world to be made of cast iron. Our offerings include everything from sculptural bathroom fixtures to flooring ideas to pedestals and columns designed in a variety of styles and much more.The Iron Bridge is a cast iron arch bridge that crosses the River Severn in Shropshire, England. On 1stDibs, find a sprawling collection of antique garden furniture and architectural elements that meet every need. When paired with a sparse arrangement of other tasteful additions, such as a stone planter, garden stool or other welcoming pieces of outdoor seating, the effect can be transformative. Instead, they’ll draw attention to your painstakingly sculpted hedges and colorful flora. Wrought-iron garden gates will simply refuse to be relegated to the background.

Where the garden is concerned, any sophisticated garden ornaments you select should work with nature, not against it. And as one good stylistic choice usually leads to another, pairing your sophisticated treads with a coupling of 19th-century hand-forged andirons would be a thoughtful, durable touch for any courtyard or comfortable lounge space, be they intended for an indoor fireplace or a patio firepit. While lending an attractive appearance to an exterior staircase, these safeguards render the steps slip-resistant for those coming and going. Victorian cast-iron stair treads hearken back to a time when adding decorative details to your property was a priority.

It helps when design changes like these have a practical upside too. Elsewhere, find a focal point in your living room and create a “feature wall” by bringing pops of color into a corner with handmade antique ceramic tiles.

To introduce a sense of timelessness to a back patio or interior common area, choose cast-stone statues or sculptural busts for a dose of drama or select ornate architectural elements such as corbels, plaques or panels made of marble or iron. It takes time and effort to improve your outdoor space or merely to bring an air of tranquility to an indoor area set aside for private relaxation or gathering with friends. Choosing the right antique or vintage building and garden elements can prove pivotal when you’re working to beautify any room in your home or just put the finishing touches on a garden or other outdoor area.

Avon cast iron bird bell