A view from the middle of the famous iron bridge and into what I’ve always affectionately called “Toytown”, Thursday 11th August 2022 (Author’s Collection).
“Could you take my picture too please?” I asked an elderly volunteer in the middle of the bridge and who’s name I’d soon find out to be John.
“Of course!” he exclaimed, raising himself from the comfy chair and from under the umbrella shielding him for a piercing and brutally hot heatwave sunshine, “but only after you’ve answered my question” he said with a roguish smile.
“Sure” I replied, “anything”.
“Why do you have a tattoo of Salvador Dalion your leg”?
And that’s how I met John.
John was born a northerner, became a southerner before moving to Ironbridge 40 years ago and has called it home ever since. We reminisced after I confirmed my brief stay of nearly four years in Ironbridge, laughed about local life as opposed to tourist life here in “Toytown” and after taking the picture that bookends this article I told John that my tattoo was actually a “cover up” of a previously despised piece of odious ink which has been replaced by an incredible tattoo that often receives incredible praise from people such as John.
“It’s a shame I can’t take any credit for it!” I joked (I tend to say this same phrase to everyone who remarks on how beautiful it is) “but it really is a work of art”.
I was going to launch into a huge appreciation of the mad Spanish surrealist artist but I started with something akin to “He just inspired me to think sideways a long, long time ago” and John simply nodded his head and said “That’ll do for me!”.
Ironbridge has an aura, a presence and an atmosphere all of its own and I go there every chance I get if I need some soul and spirit enhancement or just to stand next to the “Grand Old Lady” and tell her my woes and worries.
She’s a good listener, and so was John.
*All images captured by me on Thursday 11th August 2022*
Welcome to Ironbridge Gorge!
From the nearby corporate glass towers of Telford Town Centre to a time and a place resolutely and proudly in a very different century, in just ten minutes by car.
View of both the iron bridge and the town itself from an early point of one of the many nature trail walks that pepper the opposite side of the river from “toytown” itself.
Welcome again to Ironbridge!
I hope you’ve brought some pennies with you for the toll!
A beautiful time capsule.
Where once the Ironbridge Power Station and it’s imposing cooling towers dominated the skyline, no more. Here the River Severn follows “The Wharfage” toward nearby Coalbrookdale and another village steeped in English history.
“Messing about on the river”.
“Toytown”. Left to Right in this image captured from the very middle of the bridge are locally sourced and created ice creams and pork pies, the “Tontine Hotel” sits beneath the church high atop “Church Hill” and to your right are the distinctive bridge arches of the small Ironbridge Square.
A beautiful view toward Coalport and ultimately Bewdley, both highly recommended river side places to visit.
The Memorial to the two World Wars stands guard high above the “Grand Old Lady” of Ironbridge.
Wholly biased but this place has an aura and an atmosphere all of its own.
The view from “Stephen’s Bench” (Yes it’s incredibly narcissistic. No I won’t be apologising! And yes, it’s a little piece of heaven).
Too many cars spoiling the image alas, but a wider view across the main street leading to the Memorial and the “Grand Old Lady” herself.
What was once a garage became both a Café and then this brilliant cocktail bar during my time in Ironbridge. I occasionally indulged in the “Happy Hour”!
I heartily recommend each of the establishments on the left, especially the first one. Good friends with the owner to this day and a gentleman with a capital G.
Part of Ironbridge Square with your choices being an independent alcohol supplier, a brilliant floor to ceiling bookshop, a teddy bear shop, gift shops and a local charity just out of shot to your left.
A view from the top of “Church Hill” and high above the toytown of Ironbridge.
St Luke’s Church in the crystal blue sunshine of an Ironbridge in bloom — Part 1.
St Luke’s Church in the crystal blue sunshine of an Ironbridge in bloom — Part 2.
And thanks to John, here I am on the day in question (Author’s Collection).
Thanks for reading. My “Summer Project” has taken me to the waterways and many historical castle ruins as I’ve crisscrossed the border between England and Wales and my three most recently published travel articles are linked below:
