Ironbridge is the sight of the Iron Bridge built in 1781 of cast iron to show the potential of this new wonder material. By figuring out how to make cast iron more cheaply and in bulk they started the Industrial Revolution. The bridge crosses the River Servern and replaced many ferries which previously moved people and materials across the gorge. It was a Toll bridge but was finally closed to all but pedestrian traffic in 1934. The toll for pedestrians was only removed in 1950! Interestingly, the only ones who never had to pay a toll were the ferrymen who had lost their livelihood.
Desperate for something to eat, we then perused the various cafes and pubs available before seeing the following sign:
What a refreshing change; and the place looked inviting. This was a nice pub with a large courtyard but we ended up sitting inside because the weather was overcast and cool. I ordered a chilli-cheese burger in a Ciabatta bun (plus fries) and Miriam had two-fried eggs on ham with chunky hand-cut chips. With only cereal for breakfast she needed her egg-fix! The food was really good and washed down with a half-pint of local ale.
Then back to the car and off to Boscobel to complete the day's sight-seeing. Back at our car a very strange sight was a bloke with knee-high leather boots like something from the three musketeers. Very, very strange! We wondered whether he thought he was Johnny Depp.
