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A two mile stretch of the Ironbridge Gorge was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1986. The transformation of the iron industry in the eighteenth century is recognised as so significant that its monuments are worth preserving for the benefit of all human kind. There are ten award-winning museums spread along the valley beside the, at times, wild River Severn, still spanned by the world's first iron bridge.

Each museum features a sequence of historic works and factories dedicated to ironworking, fine china, tiles and clay smoking pipes. Here also are the clues to a transport revolution - canals, early railways, inclined plane, wharves and, of course, the Iron Bridge over the River Severn. Preserved in historic factories and houses are nationally important collections of machines, fine china, tiles and ironwork that were among the first modern mass-produced articles. Far more information is available on their incredibly comprehensive Website.

Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron and Darby Houses:

Coalbrookdale is the historical heart of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums. The people, processes and products of this area were essential in driving forward the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century. The process of smelting iron with coke instead of charcoal was perfected in Coalbrookdale by Abraham Darby I in 1709. Others had tried, but it was the processes developed at the Coalbrookdale Works which led to the national revolution in the making of iron.

From the initial output of humble cooking pots, successive Darby’s expanded the Works to make wrought-iron, cast steam engine cylinders, bridges (the most famous, of course, being the Iron Bridge erected over the River Severn in Shrophire in 1779/80), and by the Victorian period, decorative metalwork of considerable intricacy and beauty.

The Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron site now consists of a number of restored buildings all associated with the influential Coalbrookdale Company. Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, the Darby Furnace, and the Darby Houses, Rosehill and Dale, give a real sense of an industrial community which flourished between 1715 and 1900.

Blists Hill Victorian Town:

Blists Hill Victorian Town is one of the largest Open Air Museums in Britain. A small Victorian town has been created above 30 acres of woodland walks on the banks of the Shropshire Canal. The top of town has a bank, grocer’s shop, chemist, printing shop, bakers and sweetshop. Canal Street is home to the Post Office, General Draper and Outfitters, and Photographers, or enjoy a portion of traditionally made fish and chips in the Fried Fish Dealers, while the back streets are busy with small offices, works and factories including a carpenters and plasterworks.

During the summer the town springs into life with a whole host of characters who portray various aspects of Victorian life, and the school holidays and weekends provide many opportunities for visitors both young and not-so-young, to participate in hands-on activities. Enjoy a horse and cart ride round the town or ride on the fairground. Most Wednesday mornings red hot molten metal is being poured in the Foundry.

Cottage gardens and smallholdings thrive and refreshment is always available at the New Inn Victorian pub and the Forest Glen Pavilion tearooms. Victorian souvenirs on sale include cast-iron, copper-ware and plaster mouldings made on site, as well as traditional sweets, chemist recipes and freshly baked buns. Costumed staff give a warm welcome and a serious insight into how life was lived in Victorian times. A £12m development was recently completed in 2009 with the new Canal Street, Narrow gauge Mine Railway, and state of the art Visitor Centre, all helping to make Blists' Hill one of the world's best recreated Victorian towns.

Engenuity:

Ironbridge may be essentially about the past but Enginuity is devoted towards an interactive Design & Technology Centre where you can discover how good ideas are turned into great products. This is an intellectually challenging centre with plenty of opportunities for self expression and bright ideas.

Coalport China Museum:

The National Collections of Caughley and Coalport china are displayed here in the restored buildings of the old Coalport china works. Galleries show the beautiful china and explore the hardships of factory life. The children's gallery and demonstration workshops, make it a firm favourite with young and old alike.

The Museum Of The Gorge:

The Old Severn Warehouse is a short walk alongside the River from the Iron Bridge. Built in 1834 the gothic building was used by the Coalbrookdale Company as a riverside warehouse for their goods. Inside is an exhibition covering the whole history of the Gorge including a 40ft scale model of the river valley as it was in 1796.

The Iron Bridge And Tollhouse:

The Iron Bridge is known around the world as a symbol of the iron-led revolution that originated here. The Bridge still spans the River Severn at the heart of the small town that bears its name. Cast in 1779 by Abraham Darby III, its great arch enthralled the visitors that came from all over the world to admire its construction - just as they do today. An exhibition about its history is in the original Tollhouse on the south side of the Bridge which is open on weekends only during the Shropshire school summer holidays.

Jackfield Tile Museum:

Across the river from Coalport is Jackfield Tile Museum. Set in an imense Victorian factory the museum celebrates the decorative tiles that once graced the empire. Room after room is filled with beautiful displays in authentic settings such as the Pub, the Tube Station, the Butchers, hotel bars, the Hospital Ward and Church, and a 1930s 'front room'. On certain days visitors can watch staff from the Craven Dunnill Company, who still manufacture tiles on the site, and you also may have the chance to create your own. Also to be found at Jackfield Tile Museum is Fusion, a new home for the creative industries, housing a number of designers and makers.

Broseley Pipeworks:

Broseley, two miles from the Iron Bridge, was once home to one of the most prolific clay tobacco pipe making factories in Britain. Production came to an end in the 1950s when the works were abandoned and left untouched until reopened as a Museum in 1996. In the restoration little has been changed since the workers left. The Museum is a wonderfully preserved time capsule of an ancient local industry.

The Tar Tunnel:

A short walk along the road from the Coalport China Museum takes visitors to the Tar Tunnel. Two hundred years ago natural bitumen trickled like volcanic treacle into pools. In the spirit of the age it was transformed into something useful, such as pitch, lamp black and, believe it or not, remedies for rheumatics. Two centuries later it is still oozing but in minute quantities. Collect a hard hat and take a walk along the brick-lined tunnel into the hillside. The Tunnel is not open during the winter.

Opening Times - 2010:

The Tourist Information: Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm, Weekends, 10 am - 5 pm.

Some museums close or reduce their hours from November to March inclusive. Please call the Tourist Information Centre on 01952 884391 to check details or e-mail: tic@ironbridge.org.uk

Winter:
8th November - 8th April 2011: 10 am - 4 pm

Summer:
20th March - 7th November
All sites open: daily, 10 am - 5 pm
Except Broseley Pipeworks: open 1 - 5 pm from 24th May - 26th September

The following sites remain open 7 days a week from 10 am - 5 pm:
Enginuity, Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, Jackfield Tile Museum, Museum of the Gorge, The Iron Bridge Tollhouse, Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron.

Blists Hill Victorian Town remains open 7 days a week from 10 am - 4 pm.

The following sites are closed for the winter:
The Tar Tunnel, The Darby Houses and Broseley Pipeworks
All Museums are closed December 24th & 25th

Admission Prices - 2010:

Adult - £21.95
Senior - £17.60
Child/Student (5 years of age up to 18, in full time education) - £14.25
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) - £59.95
Group Price - £16.95
Group (20+):