Category: documents

Iron Bridge Documents Recieve UNESCO Recognition

Iron Bridge Documents Recieve UNESCO Recognition

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Three original documents relating to the building of the Iron Bridge in Ironbridge, Shropshire, have recieved recogntion from UNESCO’ s ‘Memory of the World’ (MOW) programme. This scheme protects humanity’s vital documentary heritage from being lost or forgotten. While some UNESCO programmes save historic buildings, this initiative preserves fragile archives, manuscripts, and library collections. Other British inscriptions include the Magna Carta, the Domesday Book, Charles Darwin’s archive, and documents tracking the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

The three Ironbridge documents added to the UK MOW relate to the building of the Iron Bridge in the 1770s, and are held in the archives of the National Trust Ironbridge Gorge Museums. They are:

  • An estimate for erecting a cast iron bridge with stone abutments over the River Severn between Madeley and Broseley, dated September 1775.
  • An Iron Bridge Share Certificate No. 10, issued to Abraham Darby, 20 October 1777, with three red wax seals. The item is countersigned in 1782 and again in 1819.
  • Abraham Darby III’s Ledger, 1771-1781. The personal business interests of Abraham Darby III for this period are listed alphabetically in the index at the front of the volume. Included are brickworks, roads and turnpikes, limeworks, house expenses, and the iron foundry at Ketley.

The three items cover the financial context for the building of the Iron Bridge. Their provenance is known, and is secure and all are in excellent condition. The documents will be on display in the entrance to the Museum of Iron in Coialbrookdale, Telford, Shropshire, from the 15th July for two weeks for visitors to see for free as a celebratation of their addition to the Memory of the World prgamme. There will also be a family trail to highlight other significant objects related to the iron bridge throughout the museum.

The UNESCO listing and detailed images of the documents can be found here: Documentary heritage relating to the building of the Iron Bridge, Shropshire | UNESCO in the UK