Tools & manufacturing · 1779

Iron Bridge

The first major bridge made of cast iron.

Built across the Severn at Coalbrookdale in 1779 with iron from Abraham Darby III's works, it spans 30 m. It proved iron as a structural material.

Arcs above join it to what it stood on, arcs below to what it led to. The bar places this stretch on the tree's whole timeline.

What it built on 2

The dashed line marks when it first worked.

Output of key industries in England, 1270-1870 Latest: Coal: 3.77k index (1700=100) (1870) Source: Our World in Data