Take a trip back to a time when the spectacular Ironbridge Gorge was dirty and downright dangerous for the everyday workers at the heart of the Industrial Revolution. Visitors to the Ironbridge Gorge Museums can explore the gritty reality of these unsung heroes at the new FREE exhibition The Daily Grind, in Coalbrookdale, play a new interactive card game at Blists Hill Victorian Town to discover who had the deadliest job, and get crafty with Gruesome Gargoyles at Coalport China Museum clay drop-ins. Over at Enginuity, visitors are invited to help Olivier Jamin, award-winning, contemporary Deaf artist, to decorate two banners celebrating the lives of the industrial workers of the Gorge.
THE DAILY GRIND: THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE IRONBRIDGE GORGE
Until 5 Nov 2023 at Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron. Free entry.
The story of the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ironbridge Gorge is usually told through the eyes of the famous ironmasters and inventors. This exhibition turns the spotlight on the personal stories of men, women and children whose skills, crafts and sheer hard graft contributed to the industrial revolution and its creative legacy today. It draws on the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust’s extensive archives and sheds fresh perspectives on the role of child labour and women in the workplace. It also illustrates the important role of religion, music, art, sport, and games in enriching life beyond the daily grind.
Visitors can vote for their least favourite jobs (the gory task of stripping maggoty meat from bones to be crushed to make bone china ranks high on the list) and try their hand at games of Shove-ha’penny and Shut the Box. Visitors are also welcome to add their own and their ancestors’ details of connections with the grafters of the Gorge to the display.
From cast iron cooking pots to elaborate statues, hand-made bricks to the best bone china and exquisite hand-made tiles, the craft and skills of the industrial workers of Ironbridge are on display at all of the Trust’s 10 museums nestled within the six square miles of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The network of museums has recently been listed among the top heritage sites to visit on short breaks by The Times and The Sunday Times.
With so much to see and do, the annual Pass ticket offers great value with unlimited visits to all sites for a whole year. The Pass Plus ticket offers additional discounts in the museum’s catering and retail outlets, for special events, fast track entry and priority booking. Discount packages are available for families. Single tickets for one off visits to any of the sites are also available.
NAUSEATING NARRATIVES
27 May – 4 June at Blists Hill Victorian Town. Interactive trail free with admission ticket.
Head up to Blists Hill for a grisly game of cards to collect and keep as you meet the costumed demonstrators and compare the rankings of workers’ trades for danger, pay and terrible working conditions. The 52-acre open air museum offers an authentic slice of life in a Victorian working town. You can hitch a ride on the horse bus, head into the mine on a little train, and change your money into old pounds, shillings and pence to spend on traditional sweets and snacks.
TILE DECORATING WORKSHOPS
29 + 30 May, 1 June at Jackfield Tile Museum. £10.75 per person, pre-booking essential.
Create your own tile design using traditional techniques at the popular Tile Workshops on dates in half term and into the summer. Your finished design will be kiln fired and can be collected or posted.
BRILLIANT BANNER DECORATING
11am – 4pm daily 29 May – 2 June at Enginuity. Free with museum entry.
Working with Olivier Jamin, an award winning West-Midlands based artist, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust has created two banners to celebrate the lives of the Industrial Workers of the Gorge. Visitors of all ages are invited to decorate these by colouring in their own section. All pens will be provided. The artist and staff and volunteers will be on hand to talk about the work, which will then be displayed in the Trust’s museums for the rest of the half term. A British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreter will be present for the duration of the activity.
CREATE YOUR OWN PRINT
27 + 28 May 3 + 4 June at Enginuity. Free for Pass Plus holders. £2 per person.
A family friendly printing activity using the popular Victorian intaglio method to copy an existing design or create your own.
PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
Deadline for entries 30 June 2023
There is still time to enter this competition for evocative images celebrating the industry and stunning natural beauty of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site.
The prize is a complimentary family PASS PLUS ticket for 2 adults and 4 children and a £100 meal voucher for the Furnace Kitchen in Coalbrookdale, where a print of the winning photograph will be displayed for an entire year.
To take part, visitors will need to share their images on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #IronbridgeLens, making sure that both post and profile are publicly visible.
