Born into poverty in the Scottish Border country in 1757, Thomas Telford rose to become a towering figure of the Industrial Revolution in Britain and the pre-eminent engineer of his day. Incorporating material from the author's earlier book Thomas Telford's Scotland, this new edition is a visual celebration of Telford's architectural and engineering legacy, from the mighty Menai Bridge to the harbours, manses and chapels of the remote Scottish Highlands.

20 papers from a conference called in celebration of the 300th anniversary of Abraham Darby's successful attempt to smelt iron ore using coke in 1709, which focus on processes of industrialization. The papers are on three broad topics: metallurgy; the wider social and environmental 'footprints' of industrialization; and the ways in which the heritage of industrialization is managed and interpreted today. Running as a constant thread through all of these areas is the role which Ironbridge has played both in the past and in the present.