Barbara Bothwell: Ironbridge Gorge and Beyond

Friday, 10 June 2011

Ironbridge Gorge and Beyond

That was a hectic couple of days, but fun. It is very difficult when looking at all of the trees and the clean water of the River Severn to believe that this was once the heart of the Victorian Industrial Revolution. Between heavy industry leaving the area and Mother Nature, the whole area has a new lease of life.

I began my 'tour' in the town of Ironbridge - walking across the famous bridge, of course - and subsequently strolled alongside the river to visit the Jackfield Tile Museum and from there strolled along to a footbridge over the river to go to the Coalport Museum (lots of very lush chinaware on display). My journey sounds easy, doesn't it? Had to be two or three miles. The reason for walking was that I couldn't find a bus going in that direction. There is a public service bus that goes to most of the museums but it only has a 2-hourly service.

So much for the first day. The other two areas still to do were Blists Victorian Village at Blists Hill and Coalbrookdale where the Darby Houses and iron museums are. Unfortunately these areas are at either end of the gorge and very hilly areas. Yes, I had to rely on that bus.

Advice? Take a car or go at the weekend when the tourist board has a bus service running between the museums.

This year at Trooping the Colour (June 12) Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge, will be a part of the parade, riding a horse behind the Queen's carriage and wearing a very big hat.

Since my last blog I have put a couple more articles onto theTravelEditor - one about Paphos in Cyprus and the other about Clarence House, home of the Prince of Wales and former home of the Duke of Cambridge. I will shortly be putting some articles about my Ironbridge experience onto TravelEditor so keep checking.

The Iron Bridge.......