This film is part of Free
Ironbridge Gorge: Conservation Area
The birthplace of the Industrial Revolution becomes a nursery for the study and conservation of our industrial past.
Overview
The world's first iron arched bridge spans more than its eponymous gorge - it's also a vital link with our industrial heritage. This episode of the This Week in Britain series, sponsored by the Central Office of Information, brought this important Shropshire landmark to audiences across the Commonwealth and beyond. A reflection of the growing recognition, in the second half of the 20th century, that archaeology and conservation shouldn't be confined to Roman ruins and castles.
This was number 769 of the weekly series, giving some idea of its longevity (it ran until 1980). The area has since been designated as a World Heritage Site and the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust now boasts ten museums in the area. This government film is a public record, preserved and presented by the BFI National Archive on behalf of The National Archives, home to more than 1,000 years of British history.
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