Buildwas Bridge

Designed by Thomas Telford. Opened in 1796, this was the second major bridge to be built in iron.

1801 '... The second iron bridge was built over the same river [Severn], about two miles above the former one, at a place called Buildwas; it.was erected at the expence of the county of Salop, agreeably to plan, and under the direction Mr. Telford, who is employed as surveyor of the public works of that county: it was also cast at Coaldbrookdale in 1795 and 1796 and consists of one arch 130 ft in the span, and rises, from the spring to the soffit of the arch, 27 feet. In this bridge, as it was necessary to keep the roadway as low possible, the principle of the Schaffhausen bridge was in some degree adopted ; the outside ribs are made as high the tops of the railing; they are connected with the ribs that bear the covering plates by means of pieces of iron, dovetailed in the form of king-posts. The plates which form the covering over the lower ribs are cast with deep flanches are laid close to each other, and form an arch of themselves, so that, altogether, the bridge is compact and firm. The weight of iron is 173 tons 18 1/2 cwt.- some similar bridges, and an aqueduct (the first made of iron over a navigable canal), have also been made under Mr. Telford's directions, in Shropshire. ....'

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