Here at Folly View Let many of our visitors enjoy the treasures accessible through the National Trust. The Ironbridge Gorge and associated museums are now under the management of the National Trust.
Ironbridge Gorge is often described as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution because many key technological and industrial developments occurred there during the 18th century.
Until recently the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (IGMT) managed 10 museums and cared for 35 historical buildings and monuments including the Iron Bridge. The IGMT has its origins in the 1950s when local historians, industrial archaeologists and volunteers feared for the safety of the remains of the Industrial Revolution in the Ironbridge Gorge.
During the 1970s the IGMT expanded and restored industrial sites including the Iron Bridge and the creation of Blists Hill Victorian Town.
Recognition of the importance of the Ironbridge Gorge saw it designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
More recently financial pressures and the challenges faced by heritage organisations more generally meant that the long term security of the museums and buildings required Government intervention – in the form of a £9 million fund – as a transfer to the National Trust in Spring 2026.
The many attractions that can be visited at Ironbridge Gorge include:
Museum of Iron and The Old Furnace
Coalport China Museum and The Tar Tunnel
Museum of the Gorge and Iron Bridge Toll House
Collectively these locations and museums offer a powerful insight into the birthplace and origins of the Industrial Revolution and modern-day industry and their future is assured through the National Trust.
Ironbridge Gorge is just a 40 minute drive along the Corve Valley from Folly View Let – an ideal self-catering holiday let accommodation to base your exploration of these and other attractions in South Shropshire.
The image used in the header of this blog post is taken from the National Trust website and their copyright is acknowledged.
