Three Ironbridge Gorge sites reopen after National Trust takeover

The first few museums in Ironbridge Gorge have started reopening after their takeover by the National Trust.

Three sites opened to visitors this week following a two-month closure: Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, the Furnace Kitchen and Blists Hill Victorian Town.

The National Trust took over the management of the Shropshire site’s 10 museums, 35 listed buildings and 400,000 collection items in March, one of the largest acquisitions it has undertaken in its 130-year history.

Since then all attractions have been closed to facilitate the landmark transfer. The sites remain largely the same but have undergone a “spring clean” and seen updates to branding, retail, and welcome spaces.

The move came after a difficult period for the site and was supported with £9m funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, as well as support from Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust, the charity that ran the site for almost 60 years, has now been wound down.

The remaining Ironbridge Gorge museums and heritage sites will open in a phased approach throughout the rest of the year.

The National Trust team is hoping to reopen Jackfield Tile Museum and Enginuity to schools in June, with bookable visits to the Tile Museum at the weekends for other visitors.

The Iron Bridge Toll House is also expected to open in mid-June, with all the remaining Ironbridge Gorge sites, including the Museum of the Gorge, to follow over the rest of the year. 

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Mark Agnew, the project director for the National Trust at Ironbridge Gorge, said the reopening came after a “huge amount of work behind the scenes”.

 “We know that everyone who loves Ironbridge Gorge will be happy to hear this news and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back.

 “Blists Hill, and the chance to step into the sights, sounds and stories of Victorian life in the Gorge, is loved by so many people both locally and across the country, so we’ve worked hard get it open in time for half-term.

 “Over the coming months, we’ll continue to develop the experience, reintroducing popular activities and demonstrations, while also introducing new ones shaped by visitor feedback. This is just the start of a long-term vision and we are excited for what the future holds.”  

Agnew said the trust’s goal is to grow the number of people that visit the sites and tackle the barriers that prevent people from engaging with heritage.

“In this first year, we want to hear from everyone who has an interest in this hugely significant place and there will be plenty of opportunity for conversation, “ he said.

“This will help us to not only secure the future of Ironbridge Gorge but also to help us develop the overall visiting experience… Our overarching aim is to get Ironbridge Gorge into a sustainable financial condition and to do this we need people to visit and support us on this journey.”

Prebooking to Blists Hill will be required for all visitors in the short term, including the National Trust 5 million-plus members, who will be able to access all of the museums for free as part of their membership.

Following visitor feedback, the trust has made car-parking free for visitors to Blists Hill and the Coalbrookdale sites.

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Claire Tafft, the National Trust’s project manager for visitor engagement at Ironbridge Gorge, said: “The Victorian shops and cottages have all had a spring clean and the costumes are all pressed ready for the storytellers and craftspeople to share what everyday life was like in industrial towns like Blists Hill.

Tafft said that, as a living town, Blists Hill will “continue to be reopened and restored over time”. 

“We appreciate everyone’s support as we begin this new chapter, and we look forward to sharing what’s still to come,” she added.