Broseley is a small town in Shropshire, England with a population of 4,912 (2001 census). The River Severn flows to the north and east of the town. The area lies within the Bridgnorth district. The settlement of Broseley appeared as far back as the Doomsday Book. The first iron bridge in the world was built in 1779 to link Broseley with Coalbrookdale and Madeley, and led to the development of Ironbridge, which is now part of a World Heritage Site.

Image:ChurchatBroseley.jpg

Broseley is a settlement within the Ironbridge Gorge area and shares much of the history of its better known neighbour, Ironbridge. Ironmaster John Wilkinson lived in the town and his great rival Abraham Darby is buried here. In the industrial revolution, Broseley was a centre for ironmaking, pottery and claypipes. It is in Broseley that John Wilkinson constructed the first ever iron boat, and also in Broseley where the plans for the Iron Bridge were designed. A clay pipe factory still exists as one of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum's collection of preserved industrial heritage sites. In the past Broseley has also been heavily involved in mining and quarrying industries and the jitty-riddled lanes of Broseley Wood are attribute to the land given to miners to build their house upon- many beautiful examples of 1700s houses still exist. It is also known that the stone out of which Buildwas Abbey was built was taken from Broseley.

In the late Victorian era Broseley suffered a decline and during redevelopment in the 1960s a lot of its fine buildings were lost with no planning regulations. Since the millennium though, Broseley looks on track to restore its heritage and image to something closely resembling that of its past.

[edit] Famous residents

Hermione Baddeley, film and theatre actress, was born in Broseley
John 'Iron Mad' Wilkinson, the eighteenth century industrialist, lived in Broseley
Abraham Darby I, an industrialist of the same period, is buried in Broseley

[edit] External links

Ceremonial county of Shropshire
Unitary authorities:	Telford and Wrekin
Boroughs/Districts:	Bridgnorth • North Shropshire • Oswestry • Shrewsbury and Atcham • South Shropshire
Cities/Towns:	Bishop's Castle • Bridgnorth • Broseley • Church Stretton • Cleobury Mortimer • Clun • Craven Arms • Dawley • Ellesmere • Ludlow • Madeley • Market Drayton • Much Wenlock • Newport • Oakengates • Oswestry • Shifnal • Shrewsbury • Telford • Wellington • Wem • Whitchurch See also: List of civil parishes in Shropshire