It was an overcast but almost spring-like day today so I decided to go a bit further afield than usual and head for Much Wenlock and Ironbridge.
The route took me through my regular territory to start with: Condover, Pitchford, Acton Burnell and Cressage but then I headed up over Wenlock Edge to Much Wenlock, Benthall, Broseley and dropped down to Ironbridge before returning via Buildwas and Cressage again.
This route took me to the epicentre of the industrial revolution and is one of the few places where you can go and honestly say "history changed here".
Concord College, Acton Burnell. They'll be preparing for the students to return from the Christmas break.
The ford at Cound Moor. It looks low and placid but closer inspection revealed it's actually about hub deep. I took the soft option.
Further down the road at Sheinton. The bridge is new and replaced the one which collapsed when restoration work was attempted after flood damage in 2007.
Much Wenlock. Historic market town & famous as the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games.
Descending into the town of Ironbridge.
On The Iron Bridge.
And here is the bridge itself. It was constructed by Abraham Darby III in 1779 and officially opened on New Years Day 1781.
The bridge is significant because as well as being the first in the world, the advancements in iron production pioneered by Darby to build it, made the modern world we take for granted possible.
On the way home now. I'm having a mince pie and taking in the view near Buildwas. The river has gone down quite a lot.
At Cressage. This pill box is a wartime relic and a reminder that had we been invaded, areas like this would have become the front line.
I did 39.86 miles today (damn, should have gone round the block to make a round 40) at an average of 11.6 mph.
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