Ironbridge was the first bridge in the world to be built using iron for its structural members, built by local ironmaster Abraham Darby III in 1779. It is of single span construction between masonry abutments, crossing Coalbrookdale. Cast iron was a novel material for loadbearing structures at that time and the design used many features associated with woodworking, such as dovetail joints. The cast iron used was produced by the nearby Darby furnaces. see https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21903675074&gbraid=0AAAAADs161Ok79LQ-CVCwwZLDdRYk6Kpj&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7HIBhDoARIsAOATDxCLX8lhefm1SfQB6zbf-o7IqYDXWXYTEn7ZDiJnZMPqaUIB6mDqjqkaAgV4EALw_wcB








