National Trust 'excited' ahead of 2026 Ironbridge museums takeover and 'new chapter'
The National Trust has promised the Ironbridge Gorge's museums' "legacy will continue" after it takes them over in 2026.
It was confirmed in October that the National Trust would be taking on the museums, which have to date been managed by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (IGMT).
The move is a seismic change for the management of a host of IGMT sites across the Ironbridge Gorge, one of Britain's most important locations that helped shape the modern world as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
The agreement was funded in part by a £9m grant from the Government, with the move vital to preserve the future of the sites.
Speaking in October Karen Davies, interim IGMT CEO, was candid about the reasons behind the takeover.
She explained that the museums have faced a struggle to secure the number of visitors needed to make the operation financially sustainable in the long term.
While the trust has no issue with its financial position, it has not been able to meet its target of 450,000 visitors a year post-Covid.
The IGMT is not the only organisation to find itself in such a situation with many visitor attractions and heritage sites suffering a drop in footfall following the pandemic - coupled with visitors reducing the amount they spend in shops or cafes.
