Synopses & Reviews
The first bridge ever to be built of iron, in 1779, is perhaps the most important industrial monument in Britain. The bridge changed the pattern of communications in its area, and attracted thousands of sightseers. The first book with this title marked the bicentenary in 1979, explaining the conception, design, and construction of the bridge and its social impact. However, since then, so much new evidence has required a completely new account. Of the iron bridges built in the half century after 1781, this book identifies nearly twice as many as the first edition. The definitive history by the two authors best qualified to write it.
Synopsis
The first bridge ever to be built of iron, in 1779, is perhaps the most important industrial monument in Britain. The bridge not only changed the pattern of communications in the area, it attracted thousands of sightseers, many from overseas; for no structure of its time so caught the public imagination. The authors produced the first edition to mark the bicentenary in 1979, explaining the conception, design and construction of the bridge, the technological background, the people involved, its effect and its social impact. However, in the two decades since then, so much new evidence has come to light that they have now produced a completely re-written new account. The story of the iron bridges built in the half century after 1781 has changed dramatically, and this book identifies nearly twice as many as the first edition. Sir Neil Cossons is now Chairman of English Heritage, while Dr Trinder has retired from full-time university teaching to concentrate on research and writing.
About the Author
Neil Cossons and Barrie Trinder worked together at Ironbridge between 1971 and 1983, the former as Director of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum and the latter as the Museum Trust's Honorary Historian. During that time they jointly directed the First International Congress of the Conservation of the Industrial Monuments and were co-authors of the first edition of this book