18th century craftsmanship
Image Acknowledgements
A brick and stone bridge crossed the Severn from medieval times to the 18th century.
In the floods of 1773 and 1795, it was irreparably damaged and finally swept away by severe flooding following an earthquake.
After its destruction, Thomas Telford built a cast-iron arch bridge in 1796, which survived subsequent floods until its replacement by a steel Pratt truss in 1905, which itself was replaced in 1992.
The first bridge was a stone one, which was washed away in the late 1700's. Thomas Telford was consulted about a replacement and he was commissioned to arrange a replacement. In the meantime he seems to have commissioned a temporary replacement.
The Telford bridge was built by the Coalbrookdale Company.
Mike Guy
Buildwas Park
