Topic (1.4): Change in the Ironbridge Gorge

By the end of this topic you should be able to:

explain the terms: Ironbridge Gorge, gorge, natural resources, tourism;
describe the location of Ironbridge Gorge;
describe how people used the area’s natural resources;
describe how Abraham Darby’s discovery was a step towards the Industrial Revolution;
explain why the steep slopes of the gorge were a disadvantage for the area’s development;
describe the ways that people have changed the Ironbridge Gorge – from the first settlers to the present day.

You will now know that change is an important idea in geography. In this topic you will study an example of change.

If you cannot visit somewhere in real life, videos and maps are the next best thing. The short video ‘Ironbridge Gorge’ explains why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Can you find the area on Google Maps and Google Earth?

geog.1, pages 12-13 – read through these pages and complete all the ‘Your turn’ activities.
Try printing a map and/or satellite image of the area and labelling the key geographical features you can see.

If you want to learn more about Ironbridge Gorge’s history, the English Heritage website is very detailed:

CHECK - [M01] Your Turn Answers