Ironbridge and wrong soldier and the phantom lights

Description

The soldier is facing north in real life not south as in this picture! South is the right way!

It was moved from the square in the 50s to make way for the bus stop.

Local folklore said: In the square he was looking towards the railway station to see his pals returning He was looking towards his beloved River Severn So by turning him around to face the river and the now vanished railway station, we’ve done the right thing.

The gas lights are no longer on the bridge! They were removed when the local gas works closed down toward the end of the 19th century. Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale were supplied with gas from the Ironbridge Gas Light Co.’s works, built in 1839 near the Madeley Wood Co.’s coke hearth.

So by putting in the gas lights we’ve made the bridge look more authentic and in our opinion more authentic, more complete, more Victoriana twee.