History of Madeley: including Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, and CoalportRandall, John
History
History of Madeley: including Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, and Coalport
Randall, John
Madeley (Shropshire, England) -- History
On the Coalbrookdale Warehouse, and on a house by the side of the
brook, the height of these floods are to be seen recorded. At
Worcester, a little above the bridge, a brass plate has the following
inscription:—“On the 12th February, 1795, the Flood rose to the lower
edge of this plate.” The lower edge measures just three feet from
the pavement level. Another plate at the archway opposite the
Cathedral bears the following:—“On the 18th November, 1770, the Flood
rose to the lower edge of this Brass Plate, being ten inches higher
than the Flood which happened on December 23rd, 1672.” This measures
seven feet from the ground immediately underneath.
There are three other marks which have been cut out the stonework on
the wall adjacent to the archway referred to, which are as follows:—
“Feb. 8th, 1852.
Nov. 15th, 1852.
Aug. 5th, 1839.”
The one in February measures from the ground six feet two inches;
November, 1852, eight feet two inches; and the one August 5th, 1839,
six feet two inches.
COALBROOKDALE.
As an important part of the parish of Madeley, still more as a locality
famous on account of its fine castings and other productions,
Coalbrookdale is deserving of a much further notice than has incidentally
been given on previous pages in speaking of the Darbys and Reynoldses.
There are few people perhaps in the kingdom who have not heard or who do
not know something of Coalbrookdale; and there are none, probably, who
pass through it by rail who do not peer through the windows of the
carriage to catch a passing glimpse of its more prominent features.
These may be readily grouped, for the benefit of those who have not seen
them, but who may read this book, as follows. In the trough of the
valley lie the works, stretching along in the direction of the stream,
formerly of more importance to the operations carried on in the various
workshops than it is at present. Upon the slope of the hill on the
south-eastern side the Church, the palatial looking Literary and
Scientific Institute, built for the benefit of the workmen, meet the eye,
and the more humble looking Methodist chapel. On both sides are goodly
looking houses and villa-like residences, where dwell the men of
directing minds; whilst here and there are thin sprinklings of workmen’s
cottages—few in number compared with the hands employed. A few strips of
grass land intervene, whilst above are wooded ridges with pleasant walks,
and to the west some curiously rounded knolls, between which the
Wellington and Craven Arms branch railway runs, sending down a siding for
the accommodation of the works.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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