BROSELEY: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1824.

"BROSELEY, a parish and market town in the franchise of Wenlock, a rectory in the diocese of Hereford, the deanery of Wenlock, and archdeaconry of Salop. 1019 houses, 4814 inhabitants. The depression of trade is stated as the cause of diminished population in Broseley, which, in 1811 contained 4850 inhabitants. Market on Wednesday, Fairs on April 25, and October 28. 14 miles south-east of Shrewsbury. In the year 1711, was discovered at Brosely, a very remarkable burning spring, of which the Rev. Mr. Mason Woodwarden, professor at Cambridge, gives the following account. "The well for four or five feet deep, is six or seven feet wide, within that is another less hole of like depth, dug in the clay; in the bottom whereof is placed a cylindrick, earthen vessel, of about four or five inches diameter at the mouth, having the bottom taken oil; and the sides well axed in, the clay rammed close about it, Within the pot is a brown water as thick as puddle, continually forced up with a violent motion, beyond that of boiling water, and a rumbling hollow noise, rising and falling by fits, five or six inches; but there was no appearance of any vapour rising, which perhaps might have been visible, had not the sun shone so bright. Upon putting a candle down at the end of a stick, at a quarter of a yard distance, it took fire, darting and flashing after a very violent manner, for about half a yard high, much in the manner of spirits in a lamp, but with great agitation. It was said that a tea kettle had been made to boil in about nine minutes time, and that it had been left burning for forty eight hours, without any sensible diminution, it was extinguished. by putting a wet mop upon it, which it was necessary to keep there for a considerable time, otherwise it would not go out. Upon the removal of the mop, there arises a sulphureous smoke, lasting about a minute, and yet the water is cold to the touch. The cause of this inflammable property, is most probably the mixture of the waters with petroleum, which is one of the most inflammable substances in nature, and has the property of burning on the surface of water. In the year 1755, this Well entirely disappeared, by the sinking of a coal pit in its neighbourhood. * See appendix."

" COLEBROOKDALE (or COALBROOKDALE), a hamlet in the parish of Broseley, celebrated for its iron bridge over the Severn, is a winding glen between two vast hills, about a mile from Madely Market, Here are the most considerable iron works in England; the forges, mills, and steam engines, with all their vast machinery, the flaming furnaces, and smoking lime kilns, present a horribly sublime spectacle. The bridge of Coalbrookdale was laid in 1779. All the parts having been cast in open sand, and a scaffold previously erected, each part of the rib was elevated to a proper height by strong ropes and chains, and then lowered, till the ends met in the centre. All the principal parts were erected in three months, without any accident to the work or workmen, or the least obstruction to the navigation of the river. On the abutments of the stone work are placed iron plates, with mortices, in which stand two upright pillars of the same. Against the foot of the inner pillar, the bottom of the main rib bears on the base plate. This rib consists of two pieces, connected by a dove- tail joint, in an iron key, and fastened by screws. Each piece is seventy feet long. The shorter ribs pass through the pillar, the back rib in like manner, without coming down to the plate. The cross stays, braces, circle in the spandrils, and the brackets, connect the larger pieces, so as to keep the bridge perfectly steady; while a diagonal, and crow stays, and top plates, connect the pillars and ribs together in opposite directions. The whole bridge is covered with iron top plates, projecting over the ribs on each side, and on this projection, stands the ballustrade of cast iron. The road over the bridge, made of clay and iron slag, is twenty-four feet wide, and one foot deep; the toll for carriages, is one shilling. The span of the arch is one hundred feet, six inches, and the height, from the base line, to the centre, is forty feet. The weight of iron in the whole, is three hundred and seventy-eight tons, ten hundred weight; each piece of the long ribs, weighs five tons, fifteen hundred weight. On the largest, or exterior rib, is inscribed in capitals,- This bridge was cast at Coalbrook, and erected in the year 1779, Coalbrookdale is 18 miles south of Shrewsbury.

In the neighbourhood of Coalbrook, are the seats of Francis Darby, and Richard Darby, Esqs. W, Tuthill, Esq., B. Dickinson, Esq., and J. Reynolds Esq."

" JACKFIELD, a curacy within the parish and township of Broseley, in the diocese of Hereford, the deanery of Wenlock, and archdeaconry of Salop, and in the franchise of Wenlock. ¾ mile north-east of Broseley."

[Transcribed information from A Gazetteer of Shropshire - T Gregory - 1824] (unless otherwise stated)

[Description(s) transcribed by Mel Lockie ©2015]