Bridging the river

Some distance east along the River Severn from the famous Ironbridge is a war memorial which is certainly unique in Shropshire and possibly in the whole country. It is a memorial footbridge of steel truss design which spans the river from Coalport on one side to Jackfield on the other.

Identical plaques stand one at each end of the bridge stating “This bridge is free O tread it reverently in memory of those who died for thee”. In the centre is a metal plaque erected “in honoured memory of our comrades from Jackfield and Coalport who fell in the World Wars”. The memorial bridge replaced a ferry which had operated on this fast flowing part of the river since the 1790s and was used principally by workers from Jackfield and Broseley travelling daily to the Coalport china works. The ferry carried a maximum of 40 people and had a chain or wire rope attached to the top of its mast and was secured by an anchor in the centre of the river. In 1799 disaster struck when the ferry sank and 28 people were drowned .

Discussion about the replacement of the ferry by a footbridge first cropped up in the early years of the 20th century but the plans did not come to fruition until the 1920s when the residents of Jackfield decided that they wanted a war memorial which was of more practical use to the community than those in nearby towns. In 1920 the Rev’d R Gillenders, Rector of Jackfield, began to raise funds by public subscription and social events in order to erect a memorial footbridge. His efforts were successful and the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company built it in nine weeks at a cost of just over £1,000. A large crowd witnessed the formal opening on 2nd September 1922 by Lady Forester, who cut the ribbon with a pair of silver scissors, stating: “I declare this bridge open and wish it a long and happy life”. The Jackfield and Madeley brass bands played ‘spirited music’ during the afternoon and proceeds from the sale of carnation buttonholes were given to the organising committee. Mr CH Parker of the Court Works, Madeley gave and cast the original First World War memorial plaques . Today, the land leading down to the bridge at the Jackfield end is still called Ferry Road and the nearby pub is the Boat Inn.