Jackfield
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Jackfield is a village in the Ironbridge Gorge, near Broseley, Shropshire, England.
[edit] Location
It lies on the south bank of the River Severn, near to the town of Broseley and opposite the village of Coalport. Jackfield is in both Telford and Wrekin and Bridgnorth districts of Shropshire — the border runs through the settlement. The central portion of the village was constructed on a particularly unstable part of the Severn Gorge where several landslips have been recorded. The landslip of 1952 devastated the core of Jackfield.
[edit] Attractions
Less than a mile upstream is the world famous Iron Bridge. In Jackfield itself, there is the Jackfield Tile Museum, housed within the former Craven Dunnill factory. In fact tile manufacturing still takes place there today, by the same company albeit on a smaller scale. Today, Craven Dunnill Jackfield manufacture hand made wall and floor tiles in true Victorian fashion.[1]
Half a mile below The Iron bridge is Jackfield free bridge. The old Jackfield free bridge was built in 1909 by local subscription to avoid tolls on the Iron bridge and Coalport bridge. It gave trouble in the 1930’s and required repeated repairs until in 1993 beyond repair it was knocked down and replaced with the present bridge. The new Jackfield free bridge is a striking structure. The tight road bends at each end discourage heavy traffic intentionally .
Three quarters of a mile further downriver are Jackfield rapids. These used to be grade 2, but following bank stabilisation work on the south bank in 2001 has become more difficult. Now grade 3 or 4 in some levels. There is now a stopper and a difficult wave train for the less experienced.[2]
A number of historical sites in Jackfield comprise waypoints on the South Telford Heritage Trail.
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