Village and civil parish
Acknowledgement: Sandra Hardwick
Buildwas is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England, on the north bank of the River Severn on the B4380 road between Atcham and Ironbridge.
Buildwas was also the site of a station opened in 1862 on the Wellington to Craven Arms Railway and Severn Valley Railway, although the station was inaccessible to the population and visitors who had to get off further down the line at either Ironbridge or Coalbrookdale.
Buildwas Abbey
Buildwas Abbey was a Cistercian monastery situated in Buildwas, roughly 2 miles west of Ironbridge. Founded by the local bishop in 1135, the abbey started with modest resources but experienced periods of growth and increasing wealth, particularly during the leadership of Abbot Ranulf in the late 12th century and again in the mid-13th century, when it acquired numerous estates from local landowners. Its abbots often served as agents for the Plantagenet monarchs in their efforts to control Ireland and Wales, and the abbey established daughter houses in both countries.
Renowned as a center of learning, Buildwas Abbey boasted a large library and was known for its strict discipline until the economic and demographic challenges of the 14th century led to its decline. This period of hardship was worsened by political instability and conflict in the Welsh Marches. The abbey was eventually dissolved in 1536 during Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries. Significant portions of the abbey church and monastic buildings still stand and are managed by English Heritage.
Buildwas also boasts a scenic nine-hole golf course that runs along the River Severn, offering picturesque views and a relaxing atmosphere. This course is accessible to members of the Buildwas Abbey Club.
Buildwas Primary Academy
The village is home to Buildwas Primary Academy, situated on Buildwas Bank Road. This historic school, which has been in operation since 1855, features three classes and a nursery, providing quality education to local children.
Buildwas also boasts a scenic nine-hole golf course that runs along the River Severn, offering picturesque views and a relaxing atmosphere. This course is accessible to members of the Buildwas Abbey Club.
![Telford's bridge at Buildwas. 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.[21] After its destruction, Thomas Telford built a cast-iron arch bridge in 1796. This survived subsequent floods until its replacement by a steel Pratt truss in 1905, which itself was replaced in 1992. Thomas Telford was consulted about a replacement and he was commissioned by the Coalbrookdale Company to arrange a replacement.](../../images/buildwas/buildwas-002.jpg)
