Jackfield is situated on the south bank of the river Severn one
mile downstream from Ironbridge. It was once a thriving
community when factories of Messrs Maws & Craven Dunhill were
producing tiles and pottery. The celebrated black "Jackfield
ware" of around 1750 was mostly exported to the American
Colonies. Maws tile works is now restored as a working museum
(www.ironbridge.org.uk). Houses of interest are
the Calcutts and the Tuckies both built about 1695.
Jackfield & Coalport Memorial Bridge
In 1920 the Rev R Gillender, Rector of Jackfield began to raise
funds, by public subscription and by organising events such as
whist drives, dances and concerts, in order to erect a memorial.
The Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company of Darlington built
the bridge in 9 weeks at a cost of £1000.
A large crowd saw the opening of the Jackfield and Coalport
Memorial Bridge on 2 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 Bands presented "spirited music" durign the afternoon
and proceeds from the sale of carnation buttonholes were given to
the committee. The original memorial plaques were given and
cast by Mr C H Parker of the Court Works, Madeley.
After some 73 years of useful service, both as a
venue for Jackfield Branch's Annual Remembrance Services and as
a link between the two villages, by 1995 the bridge had fallen
into disrepair and was threatened with demolition.
Due to the efforts of the Jackfield Branch in conjunction with
the Residents Association and with aid from Onyx Environmental
Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Telford & Wrekin
Council - during the year 2000 the bridge was refurbished
and rededicated in September of that year by Lord and Lady
Forester and again stands proudly as a War Memorial for posterity.
(
http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/panoramic/jackfield/index.shtml)
(acknowledgment: Janet Doody - Madeley Living History
Project)
| Plaque in centre of the Jackfield and
Coalport Bridge |
| |
In honoured memory
of
Our comrades from Jackfield and Coalport
Who fell in World Wars Nos 1 and 2 |
|
|
| 1914 -
1918 |
| Drv A
Bowen |
Pte H Evans
MM |
Cpl B
Morris |
Pte F
Stephan |
| Sapper J
Bowen |
Sgt R
George |
Pte C
Morris |
Pte J
Wilde |
| Pte F
Bowers |
Pte G
Goodhall |
Pte W
Mullard |
Pte T
Williams |
| Pte E
Colley |
Sapper G
Harrison |
Pte A
Oakley |
Gunner W
Wilson |
| Pte W
Cornes |
Pte G
Humphries |
L/Cpl G
Reynolds |
Pte A
Wright |
| Pte B
Edwards |
Pte J
Jones |
Pte W
Roberts |
Lt F
Youden |
|
|
A/M J
Jones |
Pte W
Stephen |
|
| 1939 -
1945 |
| L/Stoker R
Dorricott |
Pte J
Fiddler |
Pte J E
Hill |
L/Cpl H
Venn |
| Sgt E J Evans
DFM |
A/B R
Fiddler |
Pte G
James |
|
|
Missing |
| P/O G A Raddcliffe |
|
|
They shall grow not old
as we that are left grow old,
age shall not weary them nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them |
Two further plaques can be found at either end of
the bridge which say ...
Further links regarding Jackfield, Ironbridge
& Shropshire:
www.ironbridgeguide.info/index.html (Tour of
Ironbridge)
www.ironbridgeguide.info/tour/jackfield_west.html (Tour of
Jackfield West)
www.ironbridgeguide.info/tour/jackfield_east.html (Tour of
Jackfield East)
www.ironbridge-gorge.co.uk/Pub_Guide/Boat_Inn/the_boat_inn_at_the_ironbridge.html
(The Boat Inn)
www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/history/index.shtml
www.broseley.org.uk/Tour/ferry road.htm
