The world's first iron structure, and arguably the most important bridge ever built, the Iron Bridge, Shropshire, is a must-see for history and engineering fans alike.

The bridge was built by Abraham Darby III based on a design by local architect Thomas Farnolls Pritchard, to join the towns of Coalbrookdale and Broseley across the River Severn.

The Darby family had long produced iron cooking pots and cast iron tram rails, and Abraham Darby I eventually perfected the technique of smelting iron with coke, allowing for cheaper production.

The bridge itself was later cast at his ironworks in Coalbrookdale by his grandson, Abraham Darby III, leaving him in debt for the rest of his life - a small price to pay for becoming a part of industrial history!

Set in the heart of the Severn Gorge, the area soon became known as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a result.

The 100-foot, 378-tonne bridge was opened to traffic in 1781 and remained open for over 150 years before closing in 1934 to serve the rest of its days as a monument.

Recently refurbished and painted, the bridge is accessible by footpath only and allows for stunning views of the Severn Gorge, carved out of the landscape during the last Ice Age.