Crowds flock back to see iconic Iron Bridge after renovation
People have been flocking back to the world famous Iron Bridge after its renovation last year.
English Heritage said it was fantastic that so many people had returned to see the newly restored bridge, which was repaired as part of a £3.6 million programme last year.
As well as a change of colour, cracks and stresses in the historic cast ironwork were repaired.
The necessary work saw the bridge covered in sheets of white plastic for nearly a year to protect it from the elements while it was stripped.
But businesses said they had seen a loss of business as less people visited the tourist attraction.
It reopened officially in early January, and Councillor Nicola Lowery, ward member for the Ironbridge Gorge, said that things have turned around.
“Following English Heritage’s official re-opening of the Iron Bridge earlier this year, it has been wonderful to see so people both from within our community and visitors to the Gorge enjoying and spending time by the bridge," Councillor Lowery said.
"The newly conserved bridge and colour truly does look magnificent having been restored to its former glory and from speaking with local businesses many have seen an increase in people coming into Ironbridge.
"We are therefore delighted to see the positive impact that English Heritage’s Conservation project has had within our local economy and the success of this project in preserving one of our most important historic monuments.
"Many local people and visitors from around the world have been sharing their photographs and memories they have taken of the newly coloured bridge on social media and it has been delightful to see some of the stunning images people have captured of the Iron Bridge, which continues to act as one of the greatest symbols of the industrial revolution."
Fantastic
Tom Jones, of English Heritage, said: “It is fantastic that so many people have been visiting the Iron Bridge since the completion of our vital conservation project in January.
"Caring for internationally-significant historic structures like the Iron Bridge is at the heart of English Heritage's charitable purpose, but it would be impossible without our visitors, members and supporters. We are grateful to everyone who made our conservation project possible.”
When it was finished in 1779 the Iron Bridge was the first single-span arch bridge in the world to be made of cast iron and was a turning point in British engineering – it is the great-great grandfather of today’s railways and skyscrapers.
However investigations showed that it was under threat from cracking due to stresses in the ironwork dating from the original construction, ground movement over the centuries, and an earthquake in the 19th century.
The whole of the bridge’s elaborate structure has now been cleaned, conserved and repaired, from the iron radials and braces holding the bridge together to the deck plates and wedges, as well as the main iron arch itself.
The project has also seen the bridge returned to its original colour for the first time, after samples of the earliest paintwork were discovered during the conservation process.
