Only live 10 mins away...went there yesterday...had a lovely time as I always do....shopping ...walking...people watching....just enjoying the beauty of it and its surroundings...never get tired of it....brilliant...so blessed to live in a beautiful county.... 🙏🙏🙏👌👌👌
Nice one Richard. I have walked across that bridge more times. Love that area. Looking downstream off the bridge on the left bank. Was the hose of Eustace Rogers the coracle maker. Lovely old boy a real character. Thanks brought back some good memories.
There's a group set up to conserve and tell the story of the Rogers' Coracle Shed, the last in England. As Richard said, we were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time and were given a rare opportunity to have a look inside. The Coracle Trust are building a replica shed to display the original's contents. You can find out more here > www.coracleshed.org/ironbridge-coracle-trust.html
I did try to persuade Richard to bring his coracle to the Ironbridge Coracle Regatta, which is held over the August bank holiday. I think I managed to convince him to enter the races, although paddling and holding a camera/mic might be a challenge! The nearby Small Woods Association run a coracle making course in the weeks running up to the Regatta. Team entries to the Regatta are welcome, anyone up for a Team Vobes, combined with a meet-up? www.coracleshed.org/regatta.html
What a fabulous video of this stunning bridge; so important is Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale, it’s a world heritage site! I went here for a day as part of an a level geography trip when we stayed in Shrewsbury!
WOW!!! Amazing Bridge. Beautiful! Quite impressive. Thank you for sharing this wonderful bridge and beautiful place!!! Love your videos. And now the river looks healthy and happy. What a lovely town. Very amazing after belonging to that River Styx!!!
Thank you Richard and Lee for a superb tour of the Iron Bridge. Stunning views of the Bridge, River Severn and Village. What great pioneers Thomas Telford and Abraham Darby were. I grew up in the area back in the 1950's when my father was employed at the old Ironbridge 'A' Power Station. Thanks again.
Sadly they are planning on pulling down all the 'pink' towers of the power station - leaving just one would have been a nod to it's history, but I gather they are unsafe.
thank you, Lee! what a great bridge and an informative tour! thank you, Richard! lugging us around to all these places must be tiring, but it is appreciated!
Thank you so much for this show. We were there many years ago and really enjoyed the bridge and the walk along the river. This was also Irene’s first up close encounter with new Agas in a local showroom.
The AGA foundry sadly closed in November 2017, bringing an end to over 300 years of iron casting on the same site. The stoves are still assembled in AGA's modern plant in Telford but the carcass casting is done elsewhere.
Love Ironbridge I live 2 ml from here. I'm always visiting here walking my dog and visiting the local shops and pubs really beautiful area and steeped in history. Thank you lovely video.
Last time I was at the bridge it was covered in canvas. You could walk across the bridge by walking on a temporary bridge and view the bridge being restored. Now it looks Great being finished.
Lovely area to visit, we were there about 2002. I seem to remember that you could buy a pass which let you visit the various museums and exhibitions. One thing we did notice, that although there were still a lot of people around in the early evening, everything closed up.
That's the Ironbridge Passport which is an annual passport to the ten Museum Trust sites. From Richard's subsequent videos you'll hopefully get the sense that there's much more to the Gorge than the museums and visitor-orientated shops along the river. Come and see us!
Thank you both, that was very informative and a reminder of my visit there a few years ago. I hadn't realised that the Ironbridge Gorge was originally known as Coalbrookdale.
Lovely Richard. People can't really comprehend how important Coalbrookdale is. In it's time it was far far bigger in importance than silicone valley. I really mean that. This was the start of the modern world. The start of mass produced metals. Up the hill in Coalbrookdale is a museum which explains how important this place is in world history. Well worth a visit for anyone wanting to understand how this tiny Island became the most powerful country in the world. It is an extraordinary story. Also an Aga museum up there if you like Aga's.
@@RichardVobes If you are still there, pop up and visit the museum. Very few people understand the important's to the world, of Coalbrookdale. If it happened in America, there would be an International Airport, Tour buses, a theme park, Chain hotels, you get the picture. Actually thank goodness we are so understated!
I did enjoy that, that is a very interesting bridge, it must have been great to work on it like lee. I find bridges very facinating especially victorien ones! Well done you two 👍
Ironbridge is part of Telford. The boundary is on the south side of the river. Before the Iron Bridge was built the area was known as Madeley Wood. I've lived here for 68 years and knew many of the old residents who told me many tales of the river and its environs plus its original name.
I've asked that question many times and have never got a definitive answer! One opinion is that it refers to single breed cattle, others say that it's just an old term for cattle in general. The tolls are a talking point, they stayed the same from 1780 to 1951, although only foot passengers crossed the Bridge from 1934. The royalty visits, they make a point of charging them.
@@leeproudfoot9922 ..........I've always thought that it's just a signwriters error, and it was originally 'meat cattle', as there was a seasonal trade in West Shropshire, and Welsh grown beef being driven (walked) into the Midlands of England for slaughter and sale. Great video tour from Richard and yourself, ..........missing my little cottage up behind St Lukes, ...........maybe I'll make it back to retire there one day.
We spent a week in Shropshire last year with the main reason for the trip to visit the Iron Bridge. Couldn't see much of it as it was covered in plastic! Oops. On the plus side I had a really interesting chat with one of the restorers and then we went for tea and cake over the road instead. Its great to see it fully restored - it looks fantastic.
I hope you enjoyed your visit, despite it being during the conservation project. I worked with a team of brilliant volunteers whose job was to explain what was going on underneath the encapsulation. Hopefully, them being available and the temporary walkway, which allowed visitors a glimpse under the bridge, made it worthwhile. You'll have to come back and see the Iron Bridge in its new (original) colour.
Lee Proudfoot Oh we will be back! It was fascinating to have an unexpected history lesson from one of the volunteers. The finished restoration is a credit to all those endlessly patient people who worked so hard. So thank you!
Ironbridge was a frequent destination for me as a kid, on my bike, then as again as a canoeist, haven't been for years now, but really should return. (By the way have you done Bridgenorth yet ? A super town to explore, hidden steps, split level town, river frontage, and a railway joining the high and low town)
There are some nice pubs in Ironbridge & Coalbrookdale . And Jackfield. It would be nice to see these two gentlemen end the video in a pub. I would buy them a pint!
Watching in Australia. My sister has an apartment opposite above the shops and mu mum lives in jackfield. Great pork scratchings and pies in the butchers near bridge.
My dad and brother ❤️ are Ironworkers ! Local 736 Hamilton ontario. My dad has passed on already he would have loved to have seen this . He mainly worked for a company dominion bridge out of Canada! So proud of him ❤️ just sent this link to my brother
I wouldn't worry so much about the weather, sure there is less light, but an overcast day has no shadows or bright sun to spoil attempts to shoot from a certain angle.
Yes that is true - I prefer to shoot in diffused light as a rule with a little shadow. Video doesn't have the same latitude as cine film. I used to love working with 16mm.
I'm mechanical engineer and I'm planning to build iron bridge in India But I'm going to build aluminum bridge instead of iron and it will be the biggest bridge in the world I'm going to extract aluminum from iron
Only live 10 mins away...went there yesterday...had a lovely time as I always do....shopping ...walking...people watching....just enjoying the beauty of it and its surroundings...never get tired of it....brilliant...so blessed to live in a beautiful county....
🙏🙏🙏👌👌👌
Sounds great!
This was your best ever video, thank you Richard and the very knowledgable Lee Proudfoot.
Thanks Claire - glad you enjoyed it so much!
Nice one Richard. I have walked across that bridge more times. Love that area. Looking downstream off the bridge on the left bank. Was the hose of Eustace Rogers the coracle maker. Lovely old boy a real character. Thanks brought back some good memories.
I had a poke into Eustace's shed actually when I was there. Amazing!
@@RichardVobes Video coming on that ?
Alas no - just had a look and took a few photos. :(
There's a group set up to conserve and tell the story of the Rogers' Coracle Shed, the last in England. As Richard said, we were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time and were given a rare opportunity to have a look inside. The Coracle Trust are building a replica shed to display the original's contents. You can find out more here > www.coracleshed.org/ironbridge-coracle-trust.html
I did try to persuade Richard to bring his coracle to the Ironbridge Coracle Regatta, which is held over the August bank holiday. I think I managed to convince him to enter the races, although paddling and holding a camera/mic might be a challenge! The nearby Small Woods Association run a coracle making course in the weeks running up to the Regatta. Team entries to the Regatta are welcome, anyone up for a Team Vobes, combined with a meet-up? www.coracleshed.org/regatta.html
A most enjoyable 10 minutes..... please have Mr. Proudfoot as a guest often.
Thank you - we have a few more film together coming up!
A very interesting and informative video thank you Richard.
So pleased to hear you enjoyed it - thank you.
What a fabulous video of this stunning bridge; so important is Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale, it’s a world heritage site!
I went here for a day as part of an a level geography trip when we stayed in Shrewsbury!
An important place to visit!
Where you started was beautiful !
The rocks the lake the bridge
Awesome video!!!!!!!
Thanks very much!
Thank you Richard, we went to see the bridge in the 80s , brought back happy memories.
Ah yes - I remember the eighties - just!
One of your best videos. Many thanks
Thanks Tim - very pleased you enjoyed it.
Lovely looking bridge.
It sure is - thanks Daniel
WOW!!! Amazing Bridge. Beautiful! Quite impressive. Thank you for sharing this wonderful bridge and beautiful place!!! Love your videos.
And now the river looks healthy and happy. What a lovely town. Very amazing after belonging to that River Styx!!!
It is a beautiful bridge and the area stunning. Hard to believe the history that once went on here. Thanks for watching.
Thank you Richard and Lee for a superb tour of the Iron Bridge. Stunning views of the Bridge, River Severn and Village.
What great pioneers Thomas Telford and Abraham Darby were.
I grew up in the area back in the 1950's when my father was employed at the old Ironbridge 'A' Power Station.
Thanks again.
Sadly they are planning on pulling down all the 'pink' towers of the power station - leaving just one would have been a nod to it's history, but I gather they are unsafe.
thank you, Lee! what a great bridge and an informative tour!
thank you, Richard! lugging us around to all these places must be tiring, but it is appreciated!
It was fab, wasn't it! :)
Thank you so much for this show. We were there many years ago and really enjoyed the bridge and the walk along the river. This was also Irene’s first up close encounter with new Agas in a local showroom.
It is a lovely place and there are some fabulous walks to be had in the area. I think Aga has now moved.
Richard Vobes the newly refurbished bridge looks fantastic!
The AGA foundry sadly closed in November 2017, bringing an end to over 300 years of iron casting on the same site. The stoves are still assembled in AGA's modern plant in Telford but the carcass casting is done elsewhere.
Lee Proudfoot thank you. Irene was taken by the enormous appliance. Glad we saw it while it was still in operation.
Love Ironbridge I live 2 ml from here. I'm always visiting here walking my dog and visiting the local shops and pubs really beautiful area and steeped in history. Thank you lovely video.
thank you Richard from North Carolina USA
So pleased you enjoyed it Joe!
I've not been there, but now I must! Where do you find such wonderful and insightful guides like Lee? He really brought Ironbridge to life.
Lee was a magical star! You must visit the bridge and area - it is quite wonderful!
Last time I was at the bridge it was covered in canvas. You could walk across the bridge by walking on a temporary bridge and view the bridge being restored. Now it looks Great being finished.
It does look great, you'll have to come back and see it in it's new (original) colour.
Yes, Lee was one of the guys taking people over and helping explain about the bridge.
Lovely area to visit, we were there about 2002. I seem to remember that you
could buy a pass which let you visit the various museums and exhibitions.
One thing we did notice, that although there were still a lot of people around
in the early evening, everything closed up.
That's the Ironbridge Passport which is an annual passport to the ten Museum Trust sites. From Richard's subsequent videos you'll hopefully get the sense that there's much more to the Gorge than the museums and visitor-orientated shops along the river. Come and see us!
I hope you enjoyed your trip - worth coming back to see!
@@RichardVobes Our next trip will be a few days at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire.
Thank you both, that was very informative and a reminder of my visit there a few years ago. I hadn't realised that the Ironbridge Gorge was originally known as Coalbrookdale.
I think a lot of people don't know the original name for the area. Thanks for watching.
Lovely Richard.
People can't really comprehend how important Coalbrookdale is.
In it's time it was far far bigger in importance than silicone valley. I really mean that. This was the start of the modern world.
The start of mass produced metals.
Up the hill in Coalbrookdale is a museum which explains how important this place is in world history. Well worth a visit for anyone wanting to understand how this tiny Island became the most powerful country in the world. It is an extraordinary story.
Also an Aga museum up there if you like Aga's.
Thanks Harvey - I was learning that from Lee, the man who took me around. A very unique and important spot in the history of the modern world.
@@RichardVobes If you are still there, pop up and visit the museum.
Very few people understand the important's to the world, of Coalbrookdale.
If it happened in America, there would be an International Airport, Tour buses, a theme park, Chain hotels, you get the picture.
Actually thank goodness we are so understated!
I did enjoy that, that is a very interesting bridge, it must have been great to work on it like lee. I find bridges very facinating especially victorien ones!
Well done you two 👍
Yes, it was real privilege.
Thanks George!
Another beautiful video of old bridge
Thank you Richard once again with the help of Lee this time you have shown us a place I’m sure most people will not have visited.
It is such a lovely bridge and important in history. So pleased you enjoyed the video.
Excellent documentary
Ironbridge is part of Telford. The boundary is on the south side of the river. Before the Iron Bridge was built the area was known as Madeley Wood. I've lived here for 68 years and knew many of the old residents who told me many tales of the river and its environs plus its original name.
Thanks Graham. I understood the area was originally known as Coalbrookdale - which it says as much on the bridge.
Visited for the first time yesterday and wow 🤩
Every one else has made glowing comments,so I don’t need to say more! However I was fascinated by the toll prices!! What are neat cattle??
I've asked that question many times and have never got a definitive answer! One opinion is that it refers to single breed cattle, others say that it's just an old term for cattle in general. The tolls are a talking point, they stayed the same from 1780 to 1951, although only foot passengers crossed the Bridge from 1934. The royalty visits, they make a point of charging them.
Combed, polished with stunning toenails, I think!
@@leeproudfoot9922 ..........I've always thought that it's just a signwriters error, and it was originally 'meat cattle', as there was a seasonal trade in West Shropshire, and Welsh grown beef being driven (walked) into the Midlands of England for slaughter and sale.
Great video tour from Richard and yourself, ..........missing my little cottage up behind St Lukes, ...........maybe I'll make it back to retire there one day.
We spent a week in Shropshire last year with the main reason for the trip to visit the Iron Bridge. Couldn't see much of it as it was covered in plastic! Oops. On the plus side I had a really interesting chat with one of the restorers and then we went for tea and cake over the road instead. Its great to see it fully restored - it looks fantastic.
I hope you enjoyed your visit, despite it being during the conservation project. I worked with a team of brilliant volunteers whose job was to explain what was going on underneath the encapsulation. Hopefully, them being available and the temporary walkway, which allowed visitors a glimpse under the bridge, made it worthwhile. You'll have to come back and see the Iron Bridge in its new (original) colour.
Lee Proudfoot Oh we will be back! It was fascinating to have an unexpected history lesson from one of the volunteers. The finished restoration is a credit to all those endlessly patient people who worked so hard. So thank you!
There is so much else to see int he area - have a look at the next few videos with Lee and I.
Ironbridge was a frequent destination for me as a kid, on my bike, then as again as a canoeist, haven't been for years now, but really should return. (By the way have you done Bridgenorth yet ? A super town to explore, hidden steps, split level town, river frontage, and a railway joining the high and low town)
Yes I have - here is Bridgnorth which I did a while a go: th-cam.com/video/H0GaYhQMTKs/w-d-xo.html
There are some nice pubs in Ironbridge & Coalbrookdale . And Jackfield. It would be nice to see these two gentlemen end the video in a pub. I would buy them a pint!
Thanks so much Jon. You are very kind. Check out ways to support the Bald Explorer at www.Baldexplorer.com
I live in "Colebrookdale, PA" (1st blow furnace in US) named after Coal Brookdale, UK.
Watching in Australia. My sister has an apartment opposite above the shops and mu mum lives in jackfield. Great pork scratchings and pies in the butchers near bridge.
Thank you for watching from wherever you are. It is greatly appreciated.
My dad and brother ❤️ are Ironworkers ! Local 736 Hamilton ontario. My dad has passed on already he would have loved to have seen this . He mainly worked for a company dominion bridge out of Canada! So proud of him ❤️ just sent this link to my brother
Thanks for sharing!
When was it painted red?
No idea.
It's was originally red after years it turned blue then they decided to paint it to the original colour
Nice iron bridge first in the world 🌎
i remember when build this
I wouldn't worry so much about the weather, sure there is less light, but an overcast day has no shadows or bright sun to spoil attempts to shoot from a certain angle.
Yes that is true - I prefer to shoot in diffused light as a rule with a little shadow. Video doesn't have the same latitude as cine film. I used to love working with 16mm.
Love the old engineering. Great bridge. Wow proper old. That's the bridge not you Rich. 🤣
Hahahah - I am less old - Just!
I'm mechanical engineer and I'm planning to build iron bridge in India
But I'm going to build aluminum bridge instead of iron and it will be the biggest bridge in the world
I'm going to extract aluminum from iron
Golly
No need to go abroad too much to see in this country .... if only we had the weather 🙄
I agree - you can spend a life time searching through this countries history before you need to travel overseas.