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IronbridgeIronbridge is a settlement beside the River Severn in Shropshire, England that grew up beside the 100 foot (30 meter) cast-iron bridge that was built across the river there in 1779. This was the first cast-iron bridge ever constructed. It still stands. The bridge was designed by the architect Thomas Pritchard, using carpentry- style joints, and built by the iron-master Abraham Darby. Darby's cast-iron works at nearby Coalbrookdale were the site of important improvements in iron smelting technology that, among other developments, led to the Industrial Revolution in England. The bridge was originally used to transport iron, coal, and limestone across the river. Now only pedestrians may cross it. The Ironbridge Gorge was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. The bridge is in the care of English Heritage.
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