English Heritage's first crowd-funding campaign drew to a close yesterday after raising £47,545 from 911 people to support conservation on the Iron Bridge.

The charity launched the campaign on 13 November and had achieved its initial targe within 48 hours. The money will support Project Iron Bridge, an ambitious conservation programme to repair and restore Shropshire's symbol of the Industrial Revolution.

This is complemented by a €1m donation from the Hermann Reemtsma Foundation.

Morgan Cowles, Head of Conservation Maintenance at English Heritage, said:

'The response has been truly overwhelming. We are in awe of all those who have given so generously to support our vital conservation project on the Iron Bridge.

This is English Heritage's first ever crowd-funding campaign and all the money raised goes directly to the project, which is why we are so grateful to everyone who has stepped up to help make this possible.

I'd like to offer my sincere thanks on behalf of English Heritage to everyone who has made this possible.'

ABOUT PROJECT IRON BRIDGE

Project Iron Bridge called on the public to help fund the repairs necessary to save the iconic structure. The bridge was under threat from cracking caused by stresses in the ironwork, which have been impacting on the bridge since it was built. Ground movement over the centuries and an earthquake at the end of the 19th century have also contributed to the damage.

The Iron Bridge is the world's first bridge made of iron. It was built in 1779 across the River Severn and is today considered a turning point in English design and engineering.

The £3.6m project is now underway. English Heritage will now clean, repair and replace the different elements of the bridge, then repaint the entire structure and renew the road surface. For more details about the project please visit our Project Iron Bridge page.

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