Blists Hill to mark Ironbridge Gorge Museums’ 50th anniversary

Visit Blists Hill Victorian Town, near Ironbridge, over the summer school holidays between July 26 and September 3 and join in a variety of fun furnace, fire and steam inspired activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums.

See various steam machines in action on different days of the week; get up close and personal to discover how they work and learn more about the importance of steam in Victorian times.

Locomotive

The Town’s replica of Trevithick’s Coalbrookdale 1802 locomotive and the newly restored Winding Engine will be amongst the machines in steam on different days of the week.

Making a guest appearance until Friday, August 25 is narrow gauge steam locomotive, Number 14, owned by the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway.

The locomotive was one of a fleet of thirty-two 2-6-2 tank engines made for export to the Sierra Leone Railway by the Hunslett Engine Company of Leeds.

Although it was built in 1954, the design dates back to 1898 and so is in keeping with the late Victorian setting of Blists Hill.

It narrowly escaped scrapping in 1975 when the railway closed but was repatriated from West Africa by the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway where it entered traffic in 1978.

The locomotive is currently touring the country as a static exhibit before returning to the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway for major repairs.

A highlight every Wednesday morning will be the chance to see the furnace ablaze in the Town’s Iron Foundry and to watch a spectacular iron casting demonstration.

Younger visitors can follow a fun self-led family trail around Blists Hill to discover more about the role played by furnaces, fire and steam in the Industrial Revolution as well as take part in lessons in the Victorian School House.

They can also enjoy seeing the magnificent heavy horses, pigs and chickens and have a go on the Victorian Fairground. Whatever their age everyone is invited to join in the lunchtime and afternoon sing-a-longs in the New Inn.

Blists Hill Victorian Town is open from 10am until 4.30pm.

Activities will vary from day-to-day and some additional costs will apply. Visit www.ironbridge.org.uk