---
title: Shropshire Iron Bridge
author: John Clift
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16972/shropshire-iron-bridge/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
updated: 2023-04-18
---
# Shropshire Iron Bridge
_Authored by John Clift_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/16972.png)
## Image Caption
The world's first cast iron bridge, built across the River Severn in Shropshire, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) by [Abraham](https://www.worldhistory.org/Abraham,_the_Patriarch/) Darby III (1750-89). It was completed in 1779 and opened to the public on New Year's Day, 1781. The design had to be a single-span arch to allow shipping to pass underneath. The bridge used some 385 tons of iron. The project showed that iron could be used for such large projects and many more followed during the [Industrial Revolution](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Industrial_Revolution/). The bridge is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Clift, J. (2023, January 31). Shropshire Iron Bridge. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Clift, John. "Shropshire Iron Bridge." *World History Encyclopedia*, January 31, 2023. .
### MLA
Clift, John. "Shropshire Iron Bridge." *World History Encyclopedia*, 31 Jan 2023, .
## License & Copyright
[](https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnclift/4862619918/)This image was first published on [Flickr](http://www.flickr.com). [Original image](https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnclift/4862619918/) by [**John Clift**](https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnclift/4862619918/). Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 31 January 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, adapt, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.