Ironbridge Gorge is recognised around the world as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Today, the area is far from industrial, and nature has reclaimed most of the former industrial sites, leaving a unique and beautiful wooded valley. The gorge is now a network of trails, bridleways, and rural lanes, and the charming settlement is famed for being home to the world’s first iron-made bridge, built between 1777 and 1779.