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Blists Hill Victorian Town
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Recreated Town
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Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron
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Museum of The Gorge
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Broseley Pipeworks
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Blists Hill Victorian Town Photograph of people in Victorian costume
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Recreated Town
The buildings, shops, industrial and domestic activities that the museum has introduced amongst the survivals of the sites original industries have a multifunctional role. Not only are they important pieces of material evidence of the past themselves they also house the collections displayed on Blists Hill and provide a backdrop to the day-to-day interpretation which the museum undertakes.
The use of replica costume clearly has considerable advantages in recreating a particular time period. Without it the demonstrators and staff at Blists Hill would find it impossible to provide the visitor experience that the museum is seeking. The costume thus supports the buildings, artefacts, period heating and lighting that together creates the harmonious “about 1900” atmosphere.
Recreated Late Victorian costume, period artefacts and gas lighting comes together to give a genuine feel to Blists Hill.
School Costume in use.
To support the visual aspect of its interpretation Blists Hill uses third person demonstrators as its main interpretation vehicle. These are people based in exhibits who, though dressed in costume, do not pretend to be “Victorian”. The museum has always found this style to be the most useful, wide-ranging and pertinent form of communication.
However, a visit to the site today will also allow you to meet “Victorian” characters who assume a period role and who can bring a personal touch to history as they go about their business on the streets of the Town.
Third Person Interpretation in the Duke of Sutherland Cottage.

First Person Actors assuming the role of Victorian characters on the Streets of Blists Hill.

The combination of rescued or adapted buildings, period machinery and artefacts all blending into a real industrial landscape are the reason Blists Hill is so successful in creating a twenty-first century Victorian town. The support of the costume, the interpretation styles, the quality of the demonstrators and the attention to detail has all combined to create for many visitors an extremely informative and enjoyable day out.

The IRONBRIDGE GORGE MUSEUM TRUST, Coach Road, Coalbrookdale, Telford, TF8 7DQ is a limited company registered in England under the Companies Act 1948 Reg No. 918560 and the Charities Act 1960 Ref No. 503717-R.
The Ironbridge Gorge is a World Heritage Site.