Ironbridge is a small town on the River Severn, where the famous Ironbridge Gorge begins. It is a UNESCO site due to the preserved monuments from the early industrialization period. The town and its surroundings are often called the cradle of the industrial revolution.
In the second half of the 18th century, Abraham Darby improved the technique of smelting iron, which allowed for the production of more resistant alloys, including cast iron. The Iron Bridge was built then, the first bridge with a span made entirely of cast iron. It gave its name to the city, and the whole area soon became a metallurgical and industrial center.
Currently, the entire section of the River Severn Valley around Ironbridge is under protection. There are historic factories, smelters and forges that are open to the public. The former Ironbridge workshop houses the Museum of the Gorge, which presents the history of industrial development in the region. There are models, tools and machines used in factories, as well as souvenirs related to the owners and employees of factories. A branch of the museum is the Iron Bridge Tollhouse with an exhibition dedicated to the construction of the iron bridge over the River Severn.
An interesting attraction in and around Ironbridge is Blists Hill Victorian Town, a living open-air museum that has recreated an industrial town from the Victorian era.
