I’m crossing the Severn four times, on foot and (coincidentally) in chronological order. Firstly, the Iron Bridge itself (MDCCLXXIX)*, then down the old railway track to the Coalport bridge (1812). After passing the china works, I’ll cross for the third time using the Jackfield footbridge (1922), a memorial to the dead of WW1. The fourth bridge is the new ‘Free Bridge’ (1994) – built to replace its predecessor dating from 1909. The reinforced concrete with which it had been built was decaying; the reinforcements were rusting… History lesson over!
*1779

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