Our museums will close early on Sunday 22 February. Please check the opening times page on our website.

Tickets for the End of an Era event at Blists Hill Victorian Town on 22 February have now sold out.

The Tar Tunnel

The Tar Tunnel is currently closed.

A GLIMPSE OF WHAT LIES BENEATH THE IRONBRIDGE GORGE

This 1,000-yard (914 metre) tunnel was dug out in 1786 to bring coal out of the mines at river level. However miners struck a spring of natural bitumen which was then harvested to use in industry.

William Reynolds subsequently built the adjacent Hay Inclined Plane to connects the canal at the top of the Gorge the river level.

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