The history of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust

A group of local people formed the Coalbrookdale Archives Association, rescuing books, archives and objects that would otherwise have been destroyed

The Old Furnace at Coalbrookdale was excavated and an opening ceremony took place

Dawley New Town (which later became Telford) was founded. It was the first example of a derelict area being deliberately chosen for regeneration as part of the wider new town development initiative

Dawley Development Corporation set up a museum trust. It had identified the major sites that should be restored and occupied as Coalbrookdale, Coalport, Blists Hill, Bedlam Furnaces and the Iron Bridge, as well as several other lesser sites

The first part-time employee was appointed to save Blists Hill and manage volunteer working parties to rescue equipment from other sites

The lease for the Coalbrookdale Works Museum and Furnace was handed to the Museum Trust, ensuring all the major sites in the Gorge were under the museum’s care

Blists Hill had been envisaged as an open air park containing industrial remains. A Development Trust was set up in August 1971 to raise money for capital development

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Shropshire County Council and the Department of the Environment (DOE) worked on the restoration of the Iron Bridge

This was a time of intense change in the Gorge, with the emergence of the site as we know it today. As well as developing the sites that make up the Trust other infrastructure, including footpaths and fencing, was put in place to enhance the site as a whole and the canal was excavated

Blists Hill Victorian Town officially opened to the public

Coalport China Museum opened. The display of china in the kiln was instrumental in it winning the Museum of the Year Award and the European Museum of the Year in 1978

Sir Arthur Elton's collection of prints, drawings and engravings was donated to the Trust, representing the best visual source of material for the industrial and technological developments in the country from the 17th to the early 20th centuries

The bi-centenary of the Iron Bridge, supported by a range of key events and more development on site. In July HRH Prince Charles opened the Museum of Iron


The Institute of Industrial Archaeology was set up jointly by the Trust and the University of Birmingham to strengthen the research and academic side of its work

Consolidation and restoration of the Trust’s ever-growing portfolio of heritage assets

The Coalbrookdale Company’s former headquarters underwent restoration work. Enginuity and the Trust’s offices opened

Jackfield Tile Museum underwent restoration and redisplay

Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron hosted the launch of the West Midlands launch of the Cultural Olympiad

A new visitor centre and Canal Street opened at Blists Hill Victorian Town

The Olympic Torch crossed the Iron Bridge as part of the London Olympic celebrations

CORE, a magnificent digital art installation by Kurt Hentschlager, opened in the Engine Shop in Coalbrookdale

The Museum of the Gorge underwent a redevelopment, following a crowdfunding campaign with the Art Fund

The John Scott Gallery opened at Jackfield Tile Museum

The Sidaway Building (home to the Spry) and a new cover building for the Ice Breaker, Tub Boat and Trevithick opened at Blists Hill Victorian Town

The Bottle Kilns at Coalport underwent restoration work

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust celebrated its 50th anniversary

Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron reopened after redevelopment work

The Trust was forced to close its museums for several months due to the international COVID-19 pandemic

The Madeley Wood Co. Outdoor Adventure playground opened at Blists Hill Victorian Town

Blists Hill Victorian Town celebrated its 50th anniversary

Work began on the Conserving the Historic Estate project funded by the National Heritage Memorial Fund