[Benthall Hall: 30.jpg]
At the foot of Benthall Edge the Wellington and Severn Junction railway
crosses the river by a bridge 200 feet in span, and brings before us, at
a glance, this interesting little valley, with its church, its schools,
and its palatial-looking Literary and Scientific Institution. The name
has long been famous, as well for its romantic scenery as for its iron
works. Notices of these occur from the reigns of Henry VIII. and Edward
VI., down to the period of 1711, when the Darby family first settled
here. It was here that the first iron bridge--the elegant structure that
gave both name and existence to the little town adjoining--was cast in
1779; the first iron rails were laid here in 1768, and the first
successful use of mineral fuel for smelting iron was introduced in 1718.
For metal castings these works were celebrated as early as the time of
Boulton and Watt, when those for their early engines were produced here;
whilst the Exhibitions of London and Paris show that they have lost none
of their prestige. The brook from which the place derives its name, and
which was formerly of more importance than at present, is still a
pleasing feature in the landscape, swelling out into shining sheets, or
forming pleasant waterfalls as at _La Mole_, from which our view is
taken.
[Waterfall: 31.jpg]
The Wellington and Severn Junction line through Coalbrookdale is joined
by the branch line to