Martin Czerny

Although there are many heritage sites linked to the industrial revolution on my doorstep, I've only begun to visit them over the past few years, even though my dad would often tell me stories of how his own childhood was linked to them. Hidden in the bowels of Smethwick, Galton Bridge is one such site, which inspires surprise and awe when it's seen for the first time - mainly because you don't expect something like this to exist in Smethwick. Opened in 1869, the bridge was built by Thomas Telford, and was a source of inspiration for the young Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Strangely, it's only since I've gotten older that I've begun to appreciate the beauty of these structures and their historical value.