News from Ironbridge

Orphaned and abducted art: Who owns, Who knows, Who cares?

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 08:53:21 +0000

The prestigious Ironbridge Lecture will this year be delivered by cultural object law specialist, Professor Norman Palmer QC on 5 December 2012. Hosted at the University of Birmingham, the lecture entitled ‘Who owns, Who knows, Who cares? – Legal milestones on the trail of orphaned and abducted art’ will explore the often problematic journey that objects undertake before they arrive in the museum.

Between the unearthing of an archaeological object and its appearance in a public museum there exists a middle stage that is seldom in the public eye. This concerns the process by which a discovered antiquity becomes public property or otherwise enters the public domain.

A barrister specialising in the field of cultural objects, personal property, commercial law and dispute resolution, Professor Palmer has much experience in the mediation of disputes over cultural objects and and his lecture will examine the stories underlying some of the claims and the efforts of those who attempt to retrieve ‘orphaned’ and ‘abandoned’ objects. He will asks whether the present network of laws goes far enough and whether the policies underlying the current approaches are coherent and justified. Should our desire to act correctly in this field go beyond an exercise in institutional self-denial? Should we be seeking a more creative and pragmatic response to the challenges presented by these orphaned and abducted antiquities?

Professor Palmer says: ‘Museums contain many things of uncertain origin and lineage, inevitably because many collections are ancient and because collecting practices were different long ago. An object that has lived through colonisation, war and persecution, for example, is unlikely to arrive at a museum with a full family tree. These gaps in knowledge are part of the fascination of museum objects.’

Professor Palmer will follow in the footsteps of a long line of celebrated speakers including Professor Carl Chinn MBE, Gaye Blake Roberts, director of the Wedgwood Museum and popular historian Adam Hart-Davis. The Ironbridge lecture was first established in 1986 as an annual public University lecture which aims to raise the profile of the work of the Ironbridge Institute.

To register for this free event please email Caroline Ashton, Events Manager (c.e.ashton@bham.ac.uk).

For media enquiries, please contact Samantha Williams, University of Birmingham Press Office, 0121 414 6029 / s.k.williams@bham.ac.uk

Artist Blacksmiths Unveil New Sculpture at Enginuity

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:52:19 +0000

The British Artist Blacksmiths Association (BABA) will be installing a stunning new iron sculpture and interactive at Enginuity, one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums, later this month.

The sculpture, which took inspiration from the history of metalworking in the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, was designed by artist blacksmith Olly Boyett and includes concepts from fellow craftsmen Matt Snape and David Frazier. Olly’s design represents foundry boxes which are filled with a variety of forged sculptural decorated compositions.

The impressive sculpture was created over the summer in a weekend of public forging sessions at Blists Hill Victorian Town, another of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum sites. More than 75 blacksmiths worked in small teams on individual components that have been brought together to make up the sculpture. In total more than 800kg of iron has been used to create the work of art.

Anna Brennand, Deputy Chief Executive of The Ironbridge Gorge Museums said: “Enginuity is the ideal permanent home for this remarkable sculpture. Coalbrookdale is not only the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and the modern steel industry but also a centre for creative design and technology and it has been the setting for pioneering and artistic work over the centuries.”

BABA was formed more than 30 years ago to promote the highest standards of craftsmanship, design and commercial practice amongst Artist Blacksmiths in Great Britain. Their events attract a huge range of blacksmiths from the most experienced in the country to students as they are a great way to learn the craft.

The sculpture will be installed at Enginuity on 23 and 24 November and will be on permanent display at the interactive Design and Technology Centre.

Christmas Concert at Enginuity in aid of Hope House 21 December

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:14:02 +0000

Christmas Concert at Enginuity in aid of Hope House 21 December

The Ironbridge Friends of Hope House Group are organising a fund-raising Christmas Concert in aid of the charity, which will be held on Friday, 21 December starting at 7pm at Enginuity in Coalbrookdale, near Ironbridge. The Sundial Theatre Company, Mezzo Soprano Helen E May and the Wellington (Telford) Town Band will be performing a selection of carols, festive songs and comedy.

Tickets priced at £5 per adult and £2.50 for children can be obtained by writing to: Peter Nixon, 1 Coalport Close, Broseley, TF12 5BF enclosing a cheque made out to Hope House plus a SAE. Tickets are also available on the door or call 07864 714895 for more information.

Hope House Children's Hospices provide care and support to terminally ill children and their families across Shropshire, Mid Wales, Cheshire and North Wales through their two hospices - Hope House in Oswestry and Ty Gobaith in Conwy. Their support includes terminal and respite care, both at the hospices and in the child's own home, and counselling for the whole family for as long as is required. Bereavement counselling is also extended to any family in the community that has lost a child through illness or accident, or where children have lost a parent in traumatic circumstances. Their services cost £4 million a year to run and just one month's funding is provided by the Government - the rest of the running costs are met by fundraising and donations.

AIM ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF NATIONAL HERITAGE LANDMARKS PARTNERSHIP GRANTS

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:23:13 +0000

Biffa Award has pledged £1.5m over three years to the Association of Independent Museums (AIM) for the National Heritage Landmarks Partnership Scheme. The Scheme will create a high profile network of interpretation and education projects across the UK that will showcase the far-reaching changes in industrial development that have shaped our nation’s history.

Annual awards are allocated to projects that help transform derelict buildings and sites into inspirational resources that tell the stories of people, processes, industrial development and change.

AIM is delighted to announce 5 awards to the following organisations for projects in the first annual round with a total grant value of £480,000:

Birmingham Conservation Trust: Refurbishment of stamp presses and fly presses at Newman’s Coffin Fitting Works; producing community-led films and interactives which interpret the technology and reminiscences of former workers. (£44,676)

Brooklands Museum: Restoration and interpretation of Barnes Wallis’ Stratosphere Test Chamber and Control Room, to provide increased visitor access and an educational experience using Barnes Wallis as a role model. (£120,000)

Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust: Stabilisation, repair and interpretation of the Bedlam Furnace and creation of a series of Monument Trails in the World Heritage Site. (£114,960)

Kew Bridge Engines Trust: Restoration works and refurbishment of the Babcock Room, formerly a boiler house, at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum as an exhibitions space with audio-visual presentation and interpretation of London’s water supply. (£80,364)

National Mining Museum Scotland: Conservation of the Rewasher Building at the Lady Victoria Colliery and creation of a community space with an introductory exhibition and resource for tracing mining ancestry. This project will create the first national mining memorial space in Scotland. (£120,000)

Mr Barrie Williams, Chairman of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust said “It is excellent news that the Trust has secured a Biffa National Heritage Landmarks Grant. This grant will help support the conservation and interpretation of Bedlam Furnaces, at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, along with the development of a new monuments trail. As the site of the iconic painting ‘Coalbrookdale by Night’ by Philip de Loutherbourg, Bedlam Furnaces rates as one of the most important monuments in the Gorge”.

For further information contact: AIM’s Executive Director, Sam Hunt : henleymanor@btinternet.com, t: 01460 75222, m: 078 333 666 24 or Annie Bowden, PR and Communications Officer at Biffa Award: abowden@rswt.org. t: 01636 670062

Notes for Editors

AIM is a UK wide organisation that connects, supports and represents the interests of independent museums and heritage organsations. We are a growing organisation with a broad based membership ranging from large multi-site museums such as the Ironbridge Gorge Trust and Chatham Dockyard to the many volunteer-run community museums and heritage sites across the UK.

We offer advice and grant support to help museums improve their sustainability and conserve their collections. We also publish a series of Focus Papers and Fact Sheets on volunteer management and other aspects of museum operation. Importantly AIM provides a national network, enabling independent museums to share information and to seek advice on day to day issues they may be facing.

We believe that entrepreneurial approaches to museum development build successful museums and that independent governance provides the freedom and flexibility to enable this to happen.

www.aim-museums.co.uk

Biffa Award, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Group Ltd.

Since 1997, the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) has been awarding grants to environmental and community projects under the fund name Biffa Award. The fund administers money donated by Biffa Group Ltd, a leading integrated waste management business.

Under the Landfill Tax Regulations 1996, landfill operators like Biffa Group Ltd are liable for taxes on waste deposited in landfill sites. The Landfill Communities Fund allows them to donate a small percentage of their tax liability to projects working to improve communities living within the vicinity of landfill sites. To date, Biffa Award has awarded grants totalling more than £125 million to hundreds of worthwhile projects.

www.bifffa-award.org

Image courtesy of the Science Museum

Jiggers Bank Closure

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:47:43 +0000

To access Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron and Enginuity from the top of Jiggers Bank, please follow the well signed diversion. This will take you into central Ironbridge and then up Dale Road and into Coalbrookdale. The road closure is past the access point to the museums, so you will have no problems reaching the museums when approaching from Ironbridge town centre.

Open during ‘Twixmas’ festive break

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:14:05 +0000

For a fun day out during the festive period go along to the Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire’s stunning Severn Valley where six of the ten museums will be open daily from 10am until 4pm. They will only be closing on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Whether you are interested in a recreated Victorian town, hands-on interactives, fine china, decorative tiles or the history of iron making, it’s all to be found in this fascinating World Heritage Site.

Step back in time at Blists Hill Victorian Town where you will be greeted with a stunning display of sight and sound in the visitor centre as massive images are projected on nine metre high walls telling the harsh reality of life during the evolution of mining and hot metal industries.

Exchange your money in the town’s bank for pre-decimal token coins and spend them in the sweet shop, fried fish dealers or New Inn Public House. Then meander around the period shops and cosy cottages where you will receive a warm welcome from the resident Victorians and be invited into their homes for a chat around the fireside as they go about their daily life.

Over at Coalport China Museum you can marvel at the magnificent china displayed in the very buildings in which it was produced; there’s even a special gallery for children where they can discover the secrets of how china was made. Then walk through galleries and period room settings adorned with magnificent tiles at Jackfield Tile Museum. Displays include tiles from a London hospital children’s ward intricately painted with scenes from nursery rhymes.

Youngsters can let their imagination go wild at the Enginuity design and technology centre, as they become a design engineer for the day, able to play with huge interactive exhibits, X-ray everyday objects to see how they are made, control a ‘river’ to generate electricity and compete against a robot. Modern equipment is combined with historic machinery to explain everyday principles.

The two other Ironbridge Gorge Museum sites open over the festive break are Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron and Museum of The Gorge. You can also visit the original Iron Bridge itself; cast in 1779 its great arch spans the stunning River Severn – as you walk across the bridge try and imagine what the area was like around 300 years ago at the beginning of industrial development.

A great value Annual Passport Ticket allowing entry into all ten museums, valid for twelve months and unlimited return visits, costs £23.25 per adult, £18.75 for the 60 plus, £15.25 for students and children and £64 for a family of two adults and all their children aged up to 18 years in full time education (terms and conditions apply); under 5s free. Activities vary day-to-day and individual museum entry tickets are also available.

Create Strange Tiles Decorated with Amazing Aliens at Jackfield Tile Museum

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:58:08 +0000

Create Strange Tiles Decorated with Amazing Aliens at Jackfield Tile Museum: Half-term 18 – 22 February

Let your imagination run wild this February half-term at the Amazing Aliens themed tile decorating workshops at Jackfield Tile Museum in Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge. Design a weird and wonderful creature inspired by the mysteries of outer space and tube line the alien on a ceramic tile using your own choice of colours, which will be sent home a few days later. The drop-in sessions will take place from Monday 18 to Friday 22 February.

The Victorian tube lining technique will be used to decorate the 6 x 6 inch tiles, which are priced from £5 per tile (p&p extra to have your tile sent home after firing) plus the museum admission fee. Workshops start from 10am, but allowing up to 1½ hours to decorate your tile, last admission is at 3.15pm.

Festive Weekends at Blists Hill Victorian Town

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:46:24 +0000

Residents at Blists Hill Victorian Town, in the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, Shropshire, will be busy preparing for Christmas over the two weekends of 8-9 and 15-16 December. Go along to experience the atmosphere of a bygone era and you will be treated to an array of traditional celebrations from the 1800s, listen to stories of life more than 100 years ago, and have a chance to do some Christmas present shopping.

Gifts on offer around the town will include traditionally made cast-iron paperweights and doorstops, handmade plaster decorations and even rocking horses, all produced in the Gorge by skilled craftsmen and women. There will also be a huge range of unusual items in the museum gift shop.

Mr Morton’s Christmas Celebrations will once again see the magnificent Iron Rolling Mill transformed into a place for a ‘workers Christmas party’. Here visitors will be able to enjoy festive food and a wide variety of seasonal entertainment, such as Christmas songs, Punch and Judy. You can also sing-a-long with carol singers and listen to brass bands around the town, which will be festooned with traditional Christmas decorations as the townsfolk prepare seasonal goodies and make traditional Victorian presents.

Families will have the option of visiting Father Christmas (extra charge). Across on The Green, they will also be able to see and pet Father Christmas’ reindeer before their mammoth journey around the world on Christmas Eve.

These special Christmas events will take place during the weekends of 8-9 and 15- 16 December when Blists Hill is open from 10am to 4pm. Entry is £15.45 adults, £12.35 60 plus, £10.25 children 5 - 18 years in full time education and under 5s free; a family ticket (two adults and two children) is £46.50. Annual Passport tickets are not valid for these weekends.

For further information, contact the Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre on Tel: 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6).

The Search for Newcomen: Public Archaeology Session at Coalbrookdale

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:44:39 +0000

The Ironbridge Gorge Museums are inviting history enthusiasts to join in a fascinating free public archaeology session on Saturday 1 December.

The event which is being held to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the development of the Newcomen Engine will help to uncover more about local links to one of the most significant technological developments of the Industrial Revolution.

In 1712 Thomas Newcomen developed the world’s first truly practical steam engine which created a step-change in the course of the Industrial Revolution. As Newcomen improved the design of his engine he looked to the Coalbrookdale Company to provide larger and highly accurate cast iron cylinders which made the engines far more powerful, efficient and cheaper to build. These engines were to transform industry and, from them, further uses of steam power were developed such as the railway locomotive.

However, there are questions that still surround the relationship between the Newcomen engine and Coalbrookdale. The Museum’s academic and curatorial team are running a public session to explore it in more detail. The session, informed by recent research carried out at the Museum, will examine what is already known about the Coalbrookdale Company’s involvement with the construction of Newcomen engines and attempt to show where the 1742 Coalbrookdale Newcomen engine was located. People attending the session will also find out more about what pictorial evidence can tell us and how using new technology can help us to understand more about the industrial landscapes of the Gorge.

This session is free of charge and is open to all – there’s no need to book, simply turn up on the day. It will be led by Ironbridge Gorge Museum staff Shane Kelleher, Archaeology and Monuments Officer and Matt Thompson, Senior Curator along with support from the Museum’s archaeology volunteers.

The session will be opened with a performance of ‘Newcomen Comes to Coalbrookdale’ a one man play about the inventor Thomas Newcomen and the Darbys of Coalbrookdale which will take place at the Old Furnace.

The day will start at 10.30am on Saturday 1 December and will finish at around 1pm and the session will based at Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron. For more information contact Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre on 01952 433 424 or tic@ironbridge.org.uk.

HRH The Prince of Wales renews his Patronage at Ironbridge

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:09:24 +0000

His Royal Highness became Patron of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust in 1979 following a visit to the world-famous Gorge. Since then, The Prince of Wales has visited the Ironbridge Gorge Museum many times, most recently in September 2012 when he unveiled the Museum’s newly conserved Boy & Swan Fountain.

His Royal Highness’ Patronage will extend from 2012 to 2017, the year that the Museum will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee.

The Trust, known for its ground-breaking education and conservation work in the Ironbridge Gorge, welcomes around 70,000 school visits each year and supports other museums and arts organisations with their own volunteer programmes. Having completed a major £12m redevelopment of Blists Hill Victorian Town in 2009, the Trust is currently fundraising for the redevelopment of the Museum of Iron at Coalbrookdale, the first site visited by His Royal Highness in 1979 and the museum at the heart of the World Heritage Site.

Mike Lowe, President of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted that His Royal Highness has agreed to extend his Patronage for the Trust. The support of the Prince of Wales as our Patron over so many years means a great deal to all those associated with the Trust, including our many wonderful and hard-working volunteers”.

Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Culture 24’s Connect10 Competition

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:27:14 +0000

Click here to vote for Ironbridge Gorge Museums

If successful the competition organisers will pay for the artist Julian Wild to build a giant sculpture with the help of members of the public as part of the Museums at Night event in May at Enginuity, one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums.

Museums at Night (Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 May 2013) is a national initiative by Culture 24 that encourages museums to remain open after hours for one night a year, allowing as many people as possible to visit their local museum. This year museums have been invited to apply to have an artist in attendance to run workshops with visitors. The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust has been shortlisted alongside three other museums from Stoke, Cirencester and New Castle to welcome the sculptor Julian Wild.

Julian’s sculptures are often based on the history of a site and resemble three-dimensional doodles. If Ironbridge wins the vote, he will work with visitors on a communal sculpture project, in which members of the public add to a large scale sculpture constructed from glow-in-the-dark plastic pipe.

Having reached the shortlist, The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust now needs its supporters to vote for them in the competition. The museum with the most public votes by 5pm on 5 March wins the prize. To help the Ironbridge Gorge Museums win please click here and vote for Ironbridge.

Maureen McGregor, Life Long Learning Manager, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, commented “We are so excited to have been shortlisted for this amazing prize. It will be a great opportunity for local people to come down to visit Enginuity free of charge and have the chance to work with such an incredible artist. We hope everyone will get online and vote for Ironbridge.”

Click here to vote for Ironbridge Gorge Museums

Create a model ceramic house for Easter at Coalport China Museum

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:46:26 +0000

Go along to Coalport China Museum in Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge during the Easter school holidays and join-in family ceramic workshops to create a model house, real or fantasy, to your own design. These sessions will take place weekdays from 1st - 5th and 8th - 12th April.

On Mondays you can paint your own design on a glazed mug or plate, while on Tuesdays try your hand at sculpting a real insect home from terracotta clay for the bugs in your garden back home. During Wednesday - Friday you can let your imagination run wild and create a fun, fantasy house from earthenware clay.

The Easter workshops at Coalport China Museum will be held from 11am until 1pm and 2pm until 4pm; ceramic activities carry an additional fee of £4 per item, plus £3 if you want the item sent to your home after firing.

Create pneumatic rockets and discover the fun of flying at Enginuity

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:32:48 +0000

Design and build a pneumatic rocket from craft materials and discover the fun of flying during the February half-term week at Enginuity, near Ironbridge, Shropshire.

From Saturday 16th until Sunday 24th February families can join drop-in workshops between 10.30am and 3.45pm where paper, card and plastic nose cones will be used to create model rockets of around 30cm in length. The rockets can then be ‘fired’ through a selection of suspended targets from Enginuity’s pneumatic (air powered) launcher.

Families will also be able to join in a range of other fun activities and see a display of flight-related exhibits. Activities will vary from day-to-day and some additional costs will apply.

Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival marks The Queen’s Coronation

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:12:07 +0100

Now in its eighth year, the Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival (Saturday, 4th – Sunday 12th May) will be marking the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s coronation with a new circular walk around the Ironbridge Gorge Museums showing some of the locations of Royal visits since 1900. These will include a plaque unveiled by Her Majesty in 1967.

On the same day, Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May, there will also be a challenging 14 mile walk taking in a section of the aptly named Monarch’s Way, a long distance path following the escape route taken by Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester.

Larger than ever before, the nine-day festival will feature 40 free guided walks in and around the glorious Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site covering a range of interests and abilities from family outings to long distance hikes. Some take in historic trails and local flora and fauna, while others explore the mining legacy and the part played by The Gorge in the Industrial Revolution, making the festival both more challenging for the experienced walker, and interesting for those wanting to find out more about this beautiful area’s remarkable history.

The walks are graded into four levels of difficulty ranging from a gentle two-hour family treasure hunt with two routes, one pushchair and wheelchair friendly, up to a strenuous, 15 mile circular hike over the Wrekin, ideal for more experienced walkers happy with steep climbs and rough terrain. For the more adventurous there are also longer walks around the South Telford Heritage Trail and a circular tour of the Gorge to discover the history of the river bridges.

New outings include The Sabbath Walks on 7th May, which takes in the coppices established by the Quaker Darby family to pass a Sunday afternoon and an introduction to tree identification on 8th May looking at the trees which play an important role in The Gorge in the 21st century.

Other highlights include a ‘splendidly spooky’ stroll around a candlelit woodland trail for families; guided bird walks with local ornithologist Glenn Bishton and a wildlife and environmental photography outing with technique and species advice.

All walks are free but with places limited to between 15 and 20 people, pre-booking is essential; well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome on most walks but please check before booking. To reserve a place or request a copy of the programme contact the Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre by email at tic@ironbridge.org.uk or call 01952 433424; details can also be found on www.visitironbridge.co.uk/walkingfestival.

Blitz Hill - An Evening on the Home Front

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:29:24 +0000

To celebrate its 40th Anniversary, Blists Hill Victorian Town, one of Shropshire’s ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums, is planning for one evening to travel some 40 years into the 20th century – to the 1940s of World War II. From 6pm on Saturday, 22nd June families are invited to arrive in period civilian costume and join in with the town’s, 1940s Blitz Hill evening, when the residents will be raising morale on the Home Front with entertainment, music and activities.

All visitors will be given a Ration Coupon to exchange for an ounce of Kali, and they will welcome the news that fish and chips and beer are not rationed! On this midsummer evening, no blackout will be required and visitors can see casting in the foundry; listen to the brass band playing music of the time; meet the ARP warden and the WVS leader; learn about ‘Digging for Victory’; try a ‘spam’ fritter; discover ways to make the most of food rations; see vintage vehicles and steam engines and even have a go at drill with the Home Guard.

During the evening visitors can enjoy a concert in Morton’s Ironworks in the style of the popular ‘BBC’s Workers Playtime Show’ that toured factories and workplaces all over the country boosting the spirit and camaraderie of the nation. This is a chance for those who remember the war years to reminisce and share their memories, and for younger visitors to discover about the past.

Tickets to the Blitz Hill evening event must be purchased in advance from the entrance shop at Blists Hill Victorian Town, the Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre or any of the other Ironbridge Gorge Museums, priced at £8.50 adults, £5.50 children aged 3 - 15 years and £25 family (two adults and two children). All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Ironbridge Gorge Museum Annual Passport Tickets are not valid for this evening.

‘Open-day’ for Volunteers, Wednesday 13th March

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:46:27 +0000

Staff are looking to recruit volunteers for Rosehill House and Dale House, which are the former Coalbrookdale homes of several Quaker Ironmasters, including members of the famous Darby family.

On Wednesday, 13th March anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to come along and find out more at Rosehill House between 11am and 2pm. You can meet staff, the curator and, of course, some of the volunteers who will be available to answer questions and give you a personalised tour of your very own.

Rosehill House has been restored to show it as it was around 1850 and the house contains many possessions of the Darby family including furniture, pictures, silver, china, books and small personal objects. These all help to show visitors the way of life of this Quaker family and others connected with them. Dale House has been restored as a Quaker Ironmaster’s residence of about 1780. This date has been chosen as it is when the most substantial alterations were made to the house and when it’s most famous resident, Abraham Darby III, lived there.

Both Rosehill and Dale House are lucky to have a wonderful team of volunteers who greet visitors, give them information and tell the story of the houses and the people who lived there. You can help-out from one day a month to as often as they like. It’s a great chance to meet lots of wonderful people and be happy in the knowledge that you are passing on a story otherwise untold.

Lucy Andrews said: “If you’d like to come along for a chat and find out more about volunteering then a very warm welcome awaits you at Rosehill House, Coalbrookdale between 11am and 2pm on Wednesday, 13th March.”

Rosehill House is a few minutes’ walk from Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron with parking is in the Museum of Iron car park. For more information about all volunteering opportunities at The Ironbridge Gorge Museums contact Lucy Andrews on 01952 601044 or lucy.andrews-manion@ironbridge.org.uk.

Museum Wins Connect10

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:20:13 +0000

Almost 1,200 people voted for the international artist Julian Wild to work with the Ironbridge Gorge Museums during the Museums at Night event in May.

Museums at Night (Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 May 2013) is a national initiative by Culture 24 that encourages museums to remain open after hours for one night a year, allowing as many people as possible to visit their local museums. Across the country the public have been voting to send ten different artists to ten varied museums to work on a variety of inspirational projects.

Anna Brennand, Deputy Chief Executive Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust commented; “We are really grateful to everyone that voted for us in this competition, it is wonderful to know that in their busy lives our supporters found the time to vote for us. We are thrilled to be welcoming an artist of Julian Wild’s calibre to Enginuity in May and hope that everyone will come along to help him make an amazing sculpture from glow-in-the-dark pipes during the Museum at Night event”.

The Museum will publish full details of the event in the coming weeks on www.ironbridge.org.uk.

Julian Wild’s sculptures are often based on the history of a site and resemble three-dimensional doodles. His vision for the sculpture at Enginuity is that members of the local community will help him create a giant work of art, inspired by structures in the Gorge, from pipes.

The Connect10 Competition is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Telegraph family friendly award - Ironbridge needs your help!

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:59:32 +0000

Only one museum can be named the most Family Friendly in the UK. This award has great importance as it is the only national award solely judged by families, who know more than anyone if a museum is worthy of such a title. Last year Kids in Museums received over 600 nominations from families, naming 20 different museums which were shortlisted to 6 museums ahead of the final award.

Kids in Museums Patron, Mariella Frostrup said, “This Award is important because it gives a real voice to families and children – letting them choose what works in a museum for them. They chose Haslemere, Surry, not because of an outstanding collection – even though there’s a lovely stuffed bear, a giant spider crab and even an Egyptian Mummy – but because of the welcome they received. Nothing was too much for the staff and volunteers. It’s a gem.”

The Ironbridge Gorge Museums is renowned for its award winning work with young people and has taken part in ‘Takeover Day’ two years running, with young people from local schools being given the opportunity to have their say on the Museum’s exhibitions and re-development plan for the Museum of Iron. Young people and families are at the heart of the Museum’s work with staff offering exemplary customer service, along with a wide variety of events, activities and exhibitions for young people. The Museum keeps families at the forefront of its work with great value family tickets for 1 or 2 adults and all of their children, as well as family-friendly menus in the Ironbridge cafes and excellent facilities to make their days out hassle-free and enjoyable.

Steve Miller Chief Executive, Ironbridge Gorge Museums explains: “Being Family Friendly is more than just putting on children’s activities; it is about ensuring that every generation of a family is made to feel welcome and valued.”

If you have enjoyed great family days out at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums please tell Kids in Museums by emailing Kids in Museums directly (award@kidsinmuseums.org.uk) and share what’s so special about your visits.

'Mine It, Make It, Move It'

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:15:40 +0000

Blists Hill Victorian Town, one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums, is getting set to host a brand new hands-on event where families will be able to find out more about the innovations and technology of the Industrial Revolution.

‘Mine It, Make It, Move It’ is taking place on Saturday, 23rd March and is part of the National Science and Engineering Week. The day will involve fun experiments and demonstrations showing how raw materials are gathered from the ground, different production processes work and how goods are distributed to markets.

There will be fantastic science and technology inspired workshops and activities for all the family to enjoy across the Victorian Town, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary. Visitors will be able to have a go at geology and mining activities, surveying, making iron on a stick, metal casting and enamelling. The canal is now a habitat for fish, ducks and who knows what else. Visitors can dip a net into the canal to find out what is living there or join in a fun children’s archaeological dig.

As well as the workshops, families will enjoy great demonstrations including imploding oil drums and pipe-bending. Blists Hill Victorian Town’s engines will also be in steam for the day.

All activities are included in the admission price to Blists Hill Victorian Town.

Blists Hill Victorian Town receives 500 visitor reviews on TripAdvisor

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:26:42 +0000

The 500th visitor review comes shortly after Ironbridge Gorge was named as the most recommended UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UK and second in the world by the TripAdvisor community.

Blists Hill Victorian Town, celebrating the 40th anniversary of its opening this year, is a firm favourite with reviewers of all ages, many commenting on how they love to be transported back in time to take in the sights and sounds of Victorian England.

John Challen, Operations Manager for Blists Hill commented, “It is wonderful to know that visitors enjoy visiting the museum and appreciate all the hard work of the staff and volunteers so much that that they want to share their thoughts with other like-minded people. Before TripAdvisor, if you had a good experience, you might tell a few of your friends, now you can tell millions of people. We know that a lot of our visitors value this source of information in helping them select the best value days out”.

A recent reviewer commented, “Blists Hill was so informative, the staff there were knowledgeable about their subject and took time to speak to all comers and explain and answer questions. We enjoyed changing our money for pennies and farthings which was a learning experience in itself.” Many of those reviewing the museum commented on how friendly and informative the costumed demonstrators are, along with the great value of the Annual Passport Ticket.

John concluded, “All feedback from TripAdvisor is welcome; whilst we are pleased to receive positive comments, we equally welcome constructive comments that help us make further improvements and deliver outstanding customer service”.

Meccano Model Display at Enginuity - Saturday 9th February

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:42:26 +0000

All created from Frank Hornby's original construction toy by members of the Telford and Ironbridge Meccano Society, the models include an amazing collection of cranes, cars, clocks, trains and numerous quirky inventions. Some of the models contain vintage parts well over a hundred years old, which are still compatible with the more modern Meccano pieces.

Open 10am to 5pm Enginuity is one of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums; entry into the Meccano exhibition is included within the normal Enginuity admission fee.

Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival marks The Queen’s Coronation

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:40:55 +0000

Easter Fun and Egg Dancing at Blists Hill Victorian Town

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:27:57 +0000

A highlight will be the unusual pastime of egg dancing, which will take place opposite the Print Shop. Once blindfolded, the townsfolk will dance across the street without stepping on eggs that are carefully placed along their route. After the demonstration, visitors are invited to have-a-go with mini Easter eggs and lollies as rewards for all who complete the course without stepping on an egg!

You can also take part in the ‘hunt-the-chick’ competition, following a trail of clues around the recreated Victorian town; join a sing-along in the New Inn Public House and try hands-on workshops as well as watch open-air performances by the Prince Albert Players and Kaleidoscope Theatre.

Families should come wearing their best Easter Bonnets, as the Town’s Milliner will be judging the finest creations at 2pm in the Pleasure Gardens; there will be a prize for the winner and every youngster taking part receives a small Easter egg.

Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site ranked first in the UK and second in the world by TripAdvisor

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:33:18 +0000

It also takes second place in the world behind the Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa, China and ahead of the Egyptian Pyramids and India’s Taj Mahal.

As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution 300 years ago, the Ironbridge Gorge is still amazing visitors today. Here you will find the world’s first cast iron bridge built over the River Severn in 1779 and ten museums spread along its banks together with restaurants, shops, guest accommodation and a host of attractions.

More than 1.1 million*** traveller feedback forms were collected in partnership with UNESCO, making this the largest study of its kind ever conducted.

Delighted with the accolade, Professor Les Sparks, Chairman, Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site Steering Group said; “This is a worthy tribute to the warm reception visitors receive from local businesses and residents of the Ironbridge Gorge, which complements the exceptional beauty and history of the area”.

Commenting on this massive boost to the local visitor economy, Telford & Wrekin Councillor Clive Elliott, lead member for Tourism, said: “We are incredibly proud of the heritage represented by the Ironbridge Gorge and delighted that it has been recognised in this way, supporting the Gorge’s fantastic profile worldwide. “It attracts visitors from all over the globe and we’ve worked very hard to protect, support and promote the area which has now been recognised on the international stage.”

Barrie Williams, Chairman of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust added; “The Trustees, staff and volunteers at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum are thrilled that the New Year has brought with it great news for the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site. The Gorge was one of the first locations in the UK to be designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 and since then the Museum has worked carefully with many partners in the Gorge to protect and interpret the remarkable heritage of this unique part of the world.”

World’s Most Recommended Sites

1. Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa - China
2. Ironbridge Gorge – UK
3. Palace and Park of Fontainebleau - France
4. Historic Centre of Guimaraes - Portugal
5. Masada - Israel
6. Byblos - Lebanon
7. Persepolis - Iran
8. Hwaseong Fortress - Republic of Korea
9. Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula - Italy
10. Meidan Emam, Esfahan - Iran

UK’s Most Recommended Sites

These UK World Heritage sites are those most recommended, according to TripAdvisor travellers:

1. Ironbridge Gorge - Shropshire
2. Heart of Neolithic Orkney - Orkney Islands, Scotland
3. Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey - North Yorkshire
4. Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd - Gwynedd, Wales
5. City of Bath - Bath
6. Durham Castle and Cathedral - Durham
7. Old and New Towns of Edinburgh – Edinburgh, Scotland
8. Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey, and St Martin’s Church - Canterbury
9. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal - North East Wales
10. Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey and St Martin’s Church - London

“Every one of the 962 designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites is of enormous cultural or natural significance,” said Emma Shaw, TripAdvisor spokesperson. These lists identify the sites that are valued most highly by the millions of TripAdvisor travellers who visit them and therefore, Ironbridge Gorge should be incredibly proud of its position at second place in the world and number one in the UK.”

The partnership between TripAdvisor and UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre launched in October 2009 to raise awareness of and gain travellers’ support to preserve natural and cultural sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Within the partnership, TripAdvisor is also providing support to the World Heritage Centre to help monitor the conservation of the world’s most important cultural and natural heritage sites. TripAdvisor shares the feedback to the World Heritage Centre so that it may better support UNESCO member states in protection and presentation of the properties.

Mr Watt, Grumpy Man of Metal Comes to Ironbridge

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:48:45 +0000

A fantastic new exhibition Mr Watt, Grumpy Man of Metal will be running at Enginuity, one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire until 31st August 2013.

The exhibition by blacksmith artist Jon Mills features fun and whimsical sculptures showing the many adventures of Mr Watt, Grumpy Man of Metal, the central character in a series of illustrated books that appeal to both young and old alike. Mr Watt lives in a curious metal world and makes many unusual metal objects, such as a crab’s bicycle, a flying machine and a new kind of trumpet.

Other sculptures on display will include the runaway train from the book On the Wrong Track; the parson and his church from Under Wear and Tear; the witch from A Brush with Evil and the astro-barrow from Space… the Final Front Door.

Gillian Crumpton, Curatorial Officer at the Museum commented: “Jon’s work is technically outstanding and visually fascinating. We are sure that visitors will love looking at the many sculptures and following Mr Watt’s adventures.”

Mr Watt, Grumpy Man of Metal’s, creator Jon Mills was born in Birmingham in 1959 into a family of metalworkers and studied at Wolverhampton before helping to found Brighton’s Red Herring Studios in 1983. In the mid 1980s he honed his skills at brazing, forging, laser-cutting and welding and exhibited work at One Off, Ron Arad’s London workshop and gallery. In recent years Jon has been involved in major architectural commissions, inventing exciting structures that engage with their surroundings whether in cities or in the countryside. His output is extraordinarily diverse and charmingly subversive. He makes dangerous toys and automata, dysfunctional furniture and an amazing range of sculpture with themes that are witty, whimsical, and sometimes darkly Gothic.

Open 10am to 5pm Enginuity Design & Technology Centre is one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums. A great value Annual Passport Ticket allowing entry into all ten museums, valid for twelve months and unlimited return visits, costs £23.25 per adult, £18.75 for the 60 plus, £15.25 for students and children and £64 for a family of two adults and all their children aged up to 18 years in full time education (terms and conditions apply); under 5s free. Activities and workshops vary day-to-day and some carry an extra charge in addition to the museum admission fee. Individual museum entry tickets are also available.

The Heart of England Attractions celebrate major support from BIS

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:44:04 +0000

The Fund, supported by the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) will help the Heart of England Attractions consortium to develop new training programmes for their dedicated teams, enabling them to compete internationally and make the most of the great tourism opportunities following London 2012. Training providers Well Associates, who have helped develop the application, will continue to work closely with the Group on its implementation and delivery.

Members of the Heart of England Attractions include Dudley Zoo, Drayton Manor Theme Park, Alton Towers Resort and the Ironbridge Gorge Museums. Collectively these 15 attractions welcome 7 million visitors to the West Midlands each year including 360,000 schoolchildren.

The news was announced at an event at Westminster attended by regional MPs and Viscountess Penny Cobham, Chair of VisitEngland, James Berresford, CEO of VisitEngland, the national tourism board.

Peter Suddock, Chairman of the Heart of England Attractions said: "We are delighted with the news of this important support. The visitor economy is one of the most important and fastest growing sectors in the West Midlands and with this funding we will be able to raise the bar on our already excellent training and development programmes, creating long-term, sustainable solutions which will allow us to compete with the best in the world.

James Berresford, CEO of VisitEngland said: “It is excellent news that the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills is supporting the tourism industry through this innovative scheme”.

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “The Heart of England Attractions project is a great example of businesses looking to the future and taking collective action to ensure they have the skills to compete nationally and internationally.

"Nearly £3 million is already being allocated to the Midlands under the Employer Ownership of Skills scheme and with applications for round two opening soon, I would encourage other businesses – large and small – to consider how this skills fund can help them grow, from creating new apprenticeship programmes to setting up specialist training academies."

Charity Dinner Dance and Promises Auction

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:24:13 +0000

Guests are invited to enjoy good music, food and drink at an event which will support one of the county’s most popular attractions. The Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Telford is extending a warm invitation for people to attend a Charity Dinner Dance and Promises Auction which will support its educational and heritage conservation work.

Tickets for the event, which takes place on Saturday, 27th April at Enginuity in Coalbrookdale are now available to buy.

The evening promises to be extremely enjoyable beginning with reception drinks in Enginuity where guests will have the opportunity to experiment with the interactive exhibits on display while listening to a live Jazz band. A delicious three-course meal will be served in the Grade II listed Engine Shop and afterwards people can dance the evening away.

There will also be a Promises Auction where guests will be invited to bid on a variety of fantastic lots including staying in a luxury holiday home in South Devon, theatre tickets, a professional photo shoot, a chauffeured taxi service to the airport, driving a top of the range BMW or Jaguar for a weekend and a private tour of Willey Hall conducted by Lady Forester.

Ruth Brown, Fundraising Manager, said: “We really hope people will come to this fun event and we have some fantastic promises for people to bid for. All of the money raised will go towards the multi-million pound Redevelopment of the Museum of Iron which will transform it through the creation of stunning new interactive and dynamic exhibits in order to tell the story of Coalbrookdale and its history of iron-making.”

Tickets for the evening cost just £28 per person or £250 for a table of 10 and there will be a cash bar available.

To book your tickets, please contact Judy Mondon on 01952 435931 or email judy.mondon@ironbridge.org.uk.

Easter Flower themed Tile Decorating Workshops at Jackfield Tile Museum

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:34:59 +0000

Join drop-in flower themed tile decorating workshops at Jackfield Tile Museum in Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge and design your own spring blossom, inspired by the floral tiles at the museum, using your own choice of colours. The ceramic tiles can then be fired and sent to your home a few days later. The sessions will take place between Tuesday 2nd and Friday 5th April and again from Monday 8th until Friday 12th April.

The Victorian tube lining technique will be used to decorate the tiles, which are priced from £5 per tile (p&p extra to have your tile sent home after firing) plus the museum admission fee. Workshops start from 10am, but allowing up to 1½ hours to decorate your tile, last admission is at 3.15pm.

Open 10am to 5pm Jackfield is one of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums. A great value Annual Passport Ticket allowing entry into all ten museums, valid for twelve months and unlimited return visits, costs £24 per adult, £19 for the 60 plus, £15.25 for students and children and £65 for a family of two adults and all their children aged up to 18 years in full time education (terms and conditions apply); under 5s free. Activities and workshops vary day-to-day and some carry an extra charge in addition to the museum admission fee. Individual museum entry tickets are also available.

Blists Hill Victorian Town celebrates 40th anniversary on 1st April 2013

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:45:23 +0000

Blists Hill Victorian Town, one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums, where townsfolk recreate life over one hundred years ago, will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2013 with a variety of special events and activities.

On the actual Anniversary Day itself, Monday 1st April 2013, Blists Hill will be offering free entry to those born on 1st April able to show ID at the pay desk proving their date of birth. This offer is only available on 1st April 2013 and is not valid with any other promotion or discount; terms and conditions apply.

A new exhibition in the Goods Shed will showcase how the Town has evolved over the last forty years with panels looking at developments over each decade from 1973 to the present day. Visitors are invited to share their own memories of visiting, working and volunteering at Blists Hill Victorian Town over the years and chat to the Curatorial Officer about their previous visits.

On 1st April, there will also be two special tours and talks looking at different aspects of the Town, including a fascinating insight into the historic costumes worn by the demonstrators around the Town. The talk will explore what was worn in the Victorian period and how the wardrobe department, in conjunction with the curatorial team, researches and makes every garment on site, from the dresses worn by the ladies in the cottages to the hard wearing workers’ clothing for the engine drivers and foundry men. This talk will take place at 12 noon in the Goods Shed.

Other celebratory events in the year will include Blitz Hill, an evening on the Home Front. On 22nd June the Victorian town will travel some 40 years into the 20th century to the 1940s of World War II. Families are invited to arrive from 6pm in 1940s civilian outfits and join the residents as they raise morale with entertainment, music and activities. Admission will be by advance tickets only, which will be available from Blists Hill entrance and the other Ironbridge Museums, priced at adults £8.50, children £5.50 and family (2 plus 2) £25.

Museums at Night Artist Julian Wild built a giant sculpture from glow-in-the-dark drainpipes at Enginuity

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:04:27 +0100

As part of Museums at Night, the annual late night festival of arts, culture and heritage, Enginuity, one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums, invited the public to visit the museum free of charge and help international artist Julian Wild create a giant sculpture ‘Making the Connection in the Dark’ from 500 metres of drain pipes on Saturday, 18th May. The finished sculpture was later revealed, when it will miraculously glowed in the dark.

Museums at Night (Thursday 16th – Saturday 18th May 2013), is a national initiative that encourages museums to remain open after hours, allowing as many people as possible to visit their local museums. The Ironbridge Gorge Museums won the opportunity to work with Julian Wild in the recent Connect10 public vote.

Julian Wild’s vision was to create a giant glow-in-the-dark sculpture named ‘Making the Connection in the Dark’, inspired by different structures in the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site with the help of members of the local community.

For further information about the Ironbridge Gorge Museums, contact the Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre on Tel: 01952 433424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. For more information about Museums at Night visit www.museumsatnight.org.uk

Stream – a new exhibition by artist Luce Choules

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:06:17 +0100

Stream, a fascinating new exhibition by artist in residence, Luce Choules, and a team of museum volunteers opens on Friday, 26th April in the Footprint Gallery at Fusion, which adjoins Jackfield Tile Museum, near Ironbridge. Exploring the monuments and landscapes of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, the free entry display will be open daily, 10am-5pm, until Friday, 31st May.

Luce, an international artist, produces maps that are very different from the regular variety we might use to find our way from one place to another. Her work is based around extensive field surveys of landscapes where she collects photographs and objects and notes down her thoughts and feelings as she encounters different places and spaces. This material is then put together to form a very distinctive map that allows the user to feel their way through a landscape.

The exhibition will feature experimental maps about the geographical and cultural landscape of The Gorge and its environs as well as a range of landscape documentation, photographic data-tiling and drawing. Working with curators at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Luce will also present a new piece of artwork responding to the recent cataloguing of the George Maw Geological Collection. In addition to these works, the show includes the large-format publication Source and wall-based maps made with volunteers and other groups, as part of a wider project developed by the artist.

Pit Profiles, Re-Profiled

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:10:52 +0000

Pit Profiles, Re-Profiled exhibition tells miners’ stories
Coalbrookdale Gallery, Ironbridge Gorge
Monday to Friday, 21 Jun – 31 Dec 2013

Pit Profiles: Re-Profiled, an absorbing and thought-provoking exhibition of miners’ portraits and their personal stories, will be on display at the Coalbrookdale Gallery, adjacent to Enginuity in the Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire. The exhibition will be open Monday to Friday, from Friday, 21 June until Tuesday, 31 December 2013. The collection is made up of evocative contemporary photographs of colliery workers taken by Anton Want along with a selection of drawings of pit workers by H Andrew Freeth, originally published in the 1940s and ‘50s. Free to view, Pit Profile, Re-Profiled will be open Monday – Friday from 10am until 5pm,

People are often surprised to find close links between coal mining and art. When the industry was nationalised in 1947, the National Coal Board (NCB) commissioned artists and began its own collection.

Among the first was Birmingham born H Andrew Freeth (1912–1986) who travelled through the coalfields drawing portraits of working miners. These were published together with the men’s personal stories as ‘Pit Profiles’ in the NCB’s monthly magazine COAL, between 1947 and 1952. Inspired by Freeth, internationally recognised photographer Anton Want created a modern-day ‘Pit Profile’ series at Kellingley Colliery, North Yorkshire. Like the original, his portraits and interviews offer an intimate portrayal of working colliery life but in the twenty-first century.

Between them, these two artists have created an important legacy, which honours one of Britain’s oldest industries and the people who have helped to shape it.

Pit Profiles: Re-Profiled is the result of a project jointly funded by the National Coal Mining Museum for England and Arts Council England.

CONCERT AIMS TO RAISE BRASS FOR FESTIVAL

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:38:59 +0100

Brass band players from local brass bands will play a selection of brass band favourites led by guest conductor Steve Pritchard Jones, Musical Director of Shrewsbury Brass Band.

Neil Fury, Festival Chairman, said:

“Our audience can expect an evening of light entertainment featuring players from the finest Shropshire brass bands. I’m very grateful to Steve and all the players for their time and the concert will replicate the popular ‘massed bands’ section of the festival when players from the participating brass bands join together and play.”

Tickets for the fund-raising concert are £5 each and you can order in advance through PayPal on the festival’s website at www.ironbridgebandfestival.co.uk or pay on the door.

The Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival is an annual event that showcases some of the finest brass bands from Shropshire and the surroundings counties. This year’s festival takes place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July outdoors on The Green at the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron; during the two days over a dozen brass bands will take to the stage, performing to 4,000 people over the course of the weekend.

Picture (left to right) - Tom and Neil Fury preparing for the concert.

New Chief Executive Appointed

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:27:09 +0100

Anna is currently the Trust’s Deputy CEO and Director of Finance & Resources having joined the Museum in 2007 following a successful career working for international money-brokers ICAP PLC in the City of London. Anna has also performed key roles in the not for profit sector as well as the leisure and hospitality industry.

Miss Brennand, who is a qualified accountant, is also a Board Member of the Museums Association, the professional association representing museums and galleries in the United Kingdom.

During her time at Ironbridge, Miss Brennand has led the successful, multi-award winning £12m redevelopment of Blists Hill Victorian Town, the Trust’s largest site and was instrumental in Ironbridge securing Major Partner Museum status from Arts Council England, making Ironbridge one of only 16 museums in England to secure national funding under the Renaissance scheme. Anna is currently leading the Trust’s redevelopment of the Museum of Iron at Coalbrookdale, one of the most important projects in the 45 year history of the Charity.

Barrie Williams, Chairman of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust said: “After a thorough process, the Board of Trustees are delighted to announce the appointment of Anna Brennand to the role of Chief Executive for the Trust. Anna was a natural choice for the role as she has an excellent track record and displays exactly the sort of strong leadership, strategic skills and business knowledge that the Trust needs at this exciting and pivotal point in our development”.

Anna Brennand said “I feel honoured and excited to be taking up the post of CEO for the Trust and I look forward to working with our Trustees, staff, volunteers and partners. My main focus will be on delivering the Trust’s ambitious 5 Year Strategy, strengthening our curatorial position including increasing the Museum’s profile internationally and building on the Museum’s strong partnership with the University of Birmingham”.

Miss Brennand succeeds Steve Miller who leaves the Trust in June to take up the post as Head of Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service.

Brass Band Festival hoping to break target!

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:39:32 +0100

The popular Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival takes place over the weekend of 13th and 14th July outdoors on The Green at the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron. Now in its ninth year, this free family event showcases some of the finest brass bands from Shropshire and the surrounding counties and is the largest, non-competitive brass band festival in the country.

The festival will feature 16 brass bands including the Jackfield Elcock Reisen Band, the Jaguar Landrover Band, the Abraham Darby Brass Band, Wem Jubilee Brass Band, Cleobury Mortimer Brass Band, Llangollen Silver Band, City of Wolverhampton Brass Band, Black Country Brass Band, Shropshire Youth Band, Wrekin Brass, Shrewsbury Brass Band, Wellington Brass Band, Newport Town Band, Salopian Brass and Crewe Brass Band.

Neil Fury, Chairman, said: “This year’s festival looks like being even bigger and better. It’s thanks to our sponsors and volunteers that the festival is such a success and it couldn’t take place without the support and enthusiasm of the local community and the wonderful bands, which all perform their amazing music free of charge. We are hoping to break our target of attracting over 4,000 visitors over the weekend.”

Admission to the daytime festivals is free and it takes place in a beautiful setting on The Green at the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, one of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust’s ten award-winning museums.

On the Saturday evening, a ticketed charity gala concert will take place. This will feature a selection of well loved musical compositions. The concert will feature the Jackfield Elcock Reisen Band, the Jaguar Landrover Band and Helen E May, mezzo soprano and all proceeds will be donated to the Severn Hospice. Tickets for the charity gala concert on Saturday, 13th July in support of Severn Hospice are £10 each. Book in advance online at www.eventbrite.co.uk or www.ironbridgebandfestival.co.uk, or call the ticketline on 07583 279 608, email junor14@talktalk.net.

More information about the festival can also be found on www.ironbridgebandfestival.co.uk and the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron at www.ironbridge.org.uk, or follow the festival on twitter @ironbridgebrass.

Two top West Midland’s Attractions Welcome VisitEngland Chiefs

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:43:09 +0100

James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland and Lady Cobham, Chairman of Visit England will be visiting two of the West Midland’s top tourist attractions on Wednesday 1 May to hear about recent developments and future plans for Drayton Manor Theme Park and Dudley Zoological Gardens along with a vital update on what is happening at the West Midland’s top tourist attractions.

During their visit they will hear about the exciting plans at Dudley Zoological Gardens and the project which will create a single point of access for Dudley Zoo, the Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Canal Trust. A new Piazza will be created at the entrance of the zoo and new visitor facilities, will act as an arrival point to the attraction as well as being open to the general public. In addition new entrances will also be created for the Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Canal Trust.

At Drayton Manor Theme Park, they will see how a multi-million pound investment has created a spectacular new hotel with 150 bedrooms including 15 themed Thomas and Friends bedrooms, ideal for families with young children. The hotel has been an excellent development and sits alongside the theme park that welcomes over 1.2m visitors per year and still remains in family ownership.

Peter Suddock, Chairman of Heart of England Attractions and Chief Executive of Dudley Zoological Gardens commented:

“Tourism is vital to the economic well-being of the West Midlands being 10% of the West Midlands’ GDP. It not only helps regenerate communities, but also brings a great feeling of civic pride. We are delighted that we can showcase to VisitEngland some of the work that has already taken place and explain to them the exciting plans that are ahead of us.

Together, the 15 Heart of England Attractions welcome over 9 million visitors per annum and we understand that in order to continue to maintain our market position we need to continually invest and upgrade our attractions. We are confident that James and Penny from VisitEngland will be impressed by what they see and will continue to support us through their national work including promotional campaigns and advocacy.”

Both Dudley Zoological Gardens and Drayton Manor Theme Park are members of the Heart of England Attractions consortium of tourist attractions that includes the leading museums, theme parks, historic castles, gardens and zoos, who work closely together on marketing and training projects as well as advising Government on tourism issues. They stand as a reminder of just how important tourism is to the West Midlands, as many of the country’s favourite days out are spent in the region. In total, the Heart of England Attractions welcome more than 9 million visitors to the region each year and provide formal educational visits for over 350,000 school-children. These impressive figures reiterate that tourism has become very serious business and one which is essential to the local economy.

Ironbridge Gorge Museum from the Industrial Revolution to Digital Revolution

Tue, 07 May 2013 09:59:16 +0100

Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust has worked with One Outdoor Media, a subsidiary of leading technology brand Elonex, to advertise on Europe's largest roadside digital screen. Situated at Junction 9 of the M6 adjacent to Birmingham Gateway and made up of two panels, One Outdoor Media’s screen measures 65 metres in length, being almost as long as a Boeing 747.

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, which has been at the cutting edge of technology since 1709, is one of the first advertisers. This new screen enables it to reach millions of Midlands residents and commuters between the country's three largest cities, namely London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Both of the screen's panels target traffic on arguably the UK’s busiest motorway section (at the M5-M6 intersection) and they can be seen from the nearby housing and industrial areas, hotels and flight paths. This equates to a huge viewing demographic and a fortnightly traffic count of 3.44 million, making it one of the most prominent advertising sites in Europe.

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust operates 10 award winning museums in the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, near Telford, including Blists Hill Victorian Town, a recreation of a working Victorian Town at the turn of the last century.

Anna Brennand Deputy Chief Executive commented: “As soon as we heard about this new advertising opportunity we were very keen to be involved, as it provides the Museum with a unique advertising platform in the heart of our catchment area. Ironbridge has always been associated with technological innovations so it was highly fitting that we should advertise on the screen. We have already had comments from visitors and supporters saying that they have seen the screen.”

Christian Clayton, Managing Director of One Outdoor Media commented on the news: “We are thrilled to have such a prestigious institution like the Ironbridge Gorge Museum as a launch advertiser for this iconic new site. We are poised to make a difference in the region by offering the organisations within an outstanding advertising site, unique not only in the Midlands but also in the whole of Europe.’’

One Outdoor Media also owns the 19m high ‘skyscraper’ outdoor screen next to the Manchester Piccadilly station, the tallest display in the country. The Ricoh Arena LED screen at the Gateway to Coventry and two 72m2 Digital Screens installed this month at the Glasgow Rangers Football Club are two other iconic advertising sites in the company’s portfolio.

Nick Smith, CEO of Elonex said: “This project is part of our 2013/2014 £14m investment into a UK-wide roll-out of large format premium advertising locations in regional cities across the country. Following founding the Screen Saver patent for computer screens in the late 90’s we’re proud to be now using our technology in the Digital Out Of Home Market. The screen carries some unique technology developed in the UK by our dedicated Research & Design team.''

Flower themed ceramic workshops at Coalport China Museum

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:12:19 +0100

Flower themed family workshops and activities are being staged at Coalport China Museum in Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge during the May school half-term.

Go along on Monday 27th May and join drop-in workshops to paint a mug or vessel inspired by the beautiful floral designs on Coalport China, while from Tuesday to Friday, 28th – 31st May, try your hand at modelling your own fantasy garden from clay.

The half-term workshops at Coalport China Museum will be held from 11am until 1pm and 2pm until 4pm; ceramic activities carry an additional fee of £4 per item plus £3 to post your finished piece back to your home after firing.

Celebrate St George’s Day at Blists Hill Victorian Town

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:23:31 +0000

Join the residents of Blists Hill Victorian Town in Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge as they celebrate St George’s Day on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd April.

Travelling actors from the Prince Albert Players will perform their own fun, open-air interpretations of St George’s legendary slaying of the Dragon at 12noon and 2pm both days near the print shop in the town, which will be decorated in patriotic red, white and blue for the special occasion.

The story of St George and the Dragon, which probably dates back to the twelfth century, represents the triumph of good over evil. According to the legend, a town was being terrorised by a dragon, which demanded a regular sacrifice and it was now the turn of a young princess. St George slayed the dragon and saved the princess from her fate. St George is thought to have been a Roman soldier who died a martyr’s death in 303. Celebrations on St George’s Day, 23 April, became a highlight of England’s social calendar from the 15th century.

Open 10am to 5pm, Blists Hill Victorian Town is one of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums. A great value Annual Passport Ticket allowing entry into all ten museums, valid for twelve months and unlimited return visits, costs £24 per adult, £19 for the 60 plus, £15.25 for students and children and £65 for a family of two adults and all their children aged up to 18 years in full time education (terms and conditions apply); under 5s free. Activities may vary and a Museum ticket is required to take part. Individual museum entry tickets are also available.

Watch Pancake Flipping at Blists Hill Victorian Town

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:36:40 +0000

Saturday 9th - Tuesday 12th February

Watch the ladies of Blists Hill Victorian Town, near Ironbridge as they take part in the annual pancake flipping contest held outside the Print Shop daily at 12 noon from Saturday, 9th February until Shrove Tuesday on the 12th. Everyone is encouraged to cheer on the participants who must all wear an apron and flip their pancakes as many times as possible in the one minute allocated. The Victorian Policeman will be attendance to ensure fair play by all and the village School Teacher will be handing out certificates to the winners. After the contest visitors can also have a go at pancake flipping.