IGMT curators host summer talk series

This summer the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust is hosting a series of three evening talks for curious adults, delivered by the museums’ curators and focussing on stories not usually told in the museums’ displays.

With stories ranging from the dangers of Victorian workplaces to the extraordinary Channel-swimming feat of local man Captain Webb, and offering the chance to delve into the Trust’s costume collection, the talks are a rare opportunity to learn more about local history direct from the experts.

Kyla Hislop, Acting Head of Interpretation, said: “We are delighted to be bringing back our Tuesday Talks in 2025. They are an opportunity for curious adults to learn more about stories that we don’t usually tell in our permanent displays, including hidden histories of unsung heroes and local superstars. They also allow us as curators to share our passions and expertise directly with the public.

“A 'Tuesday Talk' is a unique way to spend a summer's evening, and we're certain that each will offer something that surprises or inspires our visitors.”

Crushed by the Wheels of Industry: Health Hazards of the Victorian Industrial Worker

Coalport China Museum, Tuesday 1 July, 6.30-8pm

While some criticise modern health and safety regulations for being overly cautious, this talk with Collections Curator Kate Cadman will consider the consequences when such protections were virtually non-existent.

Perilous conditions—ranging from dangerous machinery to toxic fumes—were a reality for workers in the many industries of the Ironbridge Gorge during the Victorian era. This talk explores the catalogue of work-related injury, disease and death recorded in the nineteenth century, and the human cost paid by many in the name of industrial progress.

Nothing Great is Easy: Celebrating the extraordinary life of Captain Matthew Webb (1848–1883)

The Glass Classroom at Coalbrookdale, Tuesday 5 August, 6.30pm-8pm

This talk, led jointly by Acting Head of Interpretation Kyla Hislop and Collections Curator Kate Cadman, will celebrate local hero Captain Matthew Webb and the 150th anniversary of his success as the first person to swim the English Channel.

Born in nearby Dawley, Webb’s life was defined by courage, from heroic rescues at sea to his daring Channel swim in 1875. The museums’ curators will explore Captain Webb’s legacy and share some of the commemorative objects in the Trust’s collections as they reflect on his indomitable spirit. As his brother’s memorial to him reads: “Nothing great is easy.”

This talk complements the museum’s 2025 temporary exhibition ‘Strokes of Genius’, opening in late-July.

Behind the Seams: Regency & Romantic Fashions (1795–1850)

Gadgetdom in Enginuity, Tuesday 2 September, 6.30pm-8pm

The Trust’s Acting Head of Interpretation Kyla Hislop will lead this talk exploring the evolution of early nineteenth-century fashion. It will go from the classical-inspired Regency outfits seen in Pride & Prejudice to the extravagant 1830s styles of Gentleman Jack and the more austere style of dress associated with Jane Eyre and the 1840s.

The talk will be followed by the opportunity to see original garments from the Trust’s collections and explore their construction, the fabrics used, and the silhouettes that defined these decades.

Talks cost £5 per person (£4.50 for Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums).