The Shropshire town that changed the whole world - remembering those who built and powered it
Historian Alice Loxton has brought to light the lives of ordinary people who lived through the Industrial Revolution's boom and bust in a powerful new podcast.
An historian has traced forgotten lives at the National Trust’s newest acquisition, Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, uncovering the human cost and hidden fortunes of the Industrial Revolution in a new podcast series.
Using archival research by experts at UK family history website, Findmypast, historian Alice Loxton has brought to light the lives of ordinary people who lived through the Industrial Revolution's boom and bust in a powerful new podcast.
The research reveals the untold stories of generations of families who powered the factories and mines at Ironbridge Gorge, dubbed the ‘birthplace of the Industrial Revolution’.
The new series, Rise, Power, Ruin: A Family History of the Industrial Revolution, explores the compelling stories discovered in Findmypast's digital archive.
Piecing together census records, historical newspapers and family history records, historian Alice Loxton, better known to millions of social media followers as HistoryAlice, and host Findmypast genealogist Jen Baldwin reveal what life was really like for the people in one of Britain's most important industrial communities.
The research was undertaken as part of a wider collaboration with the National Trust, ahead of its re-opening for this year’s upcoming Heritage Open Days festival in September. The collaboration aims to use detailed family history research to uncover fresh perspectives on the people who lived, worked, and raised families in Ironbridge Gorge.
It comes at a significant moment for the Gorge, after it was secured for future generations through the National Trust's landmark acquisition in 2025. It is just one of just 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in England and one of Britain's most important heritage landscapes, encompassing a complex of ten museums and 35 listed heritage buildings and monuments.
Among the stories featured are three generations of women employed as skilled paintresses at Coalport China Works, revealing the often-overlooked role women played in sustaining Britain's industrial success and how entire communities were affected when local industries declined.
Another episode follows two brothers from Coalbrookdale Iron Works – which later produced Aga ranges – whose lives took dramatically different paths despite growing up under the same roof. While one spent 60 years working as a moulder in the ironworks, the other rose to become a draughtsman, educator and entrepreneur, offering a rare glimpse into the opportunities and challenges created by industrial change.
The series also explores the complex life of Matthew Taylor, a soldier defending British Imperial interests who returns home to become a coal miner with tragic consequences. Enduring variable shift work, antisocial working hours, and poor pay, his story sheds light on the pressures faced by workers in an industrial society undergoing profound economic and social change.
Alice Loxton said: “When we think about the Industrial Revolution, we tend to think about inventions, factories and famous figures. But there are so many more stories to uncover - such as the lives of the families who experienced and powered these huge changes first-hand.
“What I love about these new stories is that they reveal the human reality behind one of the most important periods in British history. Through records preserved in Findmypast's archives, we're able to meet individuals whose lives would otherwise have been forgotten, and discover how they adapted, endured and sometimes struggled as the world around them changed during the boom and then bust of the Industrial Revolution. I’d encourage everyone to listen to the series now, wherever you get your podcasts.”
Jen Baldwin, regular host of the podcast, genealogist and research specialist at Findmypast, added: "Ironbridge changed the world, but the people who built and powered it are often missing from the history books. By combining Findmypast's vast collection of historical records with the National Trust's curation and stewardship of Ironbridge Gorge, we've been able to uncover remarkable stories that bring this iconic place to life in a completely new way.
"Family history has a unique ability to connect major historical events with the real people who lived through them. These stories remind us that the Industrial Revolution wasn't just a period of technological change; it was something experienced day-to-day by families and communities whose lives still resonate today."
Lauren Collier, Property Curator for Ironbridge Gorge - National Trust, said: "Ironbridge Gorge holds a unique place in Britain's story as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. It’s a connected community of industries and families, and we’re delighted to work with Findmypast to reveal new perspectives on the people who lived and worked here. These deeply personal histories add an important human dimension to a landscape known around the world for its role in shaping modern society.
“The series launches as visitors are invited to rediscover Ironbridge Gorge thanks to the National Trust’s care through the stories of the people who called it home, demonstrating how family history research can reveal new ways of understanding nationally important places and their past.”
Rise, Power, Ruin: A Family History of the Industrial Revolution is available now on all major podcast platforms: https://shows.acast.com/a-family-history-of
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