Ironbridge, on a cold January afternoon.
Tag: Ironbridge
Grey day at Ironbridge
A walk down to the river – a breath of fresh air on a cold grey afternoon. We’d better not dawdle – rain is forecast for later in the day.
Stretching the legs: Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge
Weather, mothers, and plumbers – they’ve all had an impact on our outings recently. We needed a leg-stretch, and the field paths would be muddy, so we took to the quieter paths and lanes away from the wharfage for a wander on a mild November afternoon.
The above is last month’s map – today we walked it anticlockwise… View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367255&Y=304041&A=Y&Z=120
Autumn in the dale
That’s Coalbrookdale – and Ironbridge – a good place for a pleasant walk on a sunny afternoon, after a couple of rainy days. There’s no shortage of visitors in the vicinity of the bridge (it is half-term week, after all), but away from the bridge it’s quiet. The leaves are coming down rapidly now – the trees will soon lose their colour.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367255&Y=304041&A=Y&Z=120
Spring in the air
It’s been cold and showery recently, but today the temperature made double figures, and the Met Office reckoned it wouldn’t rain before four o’clock. We’d better get out and stretch our legs. Considering that the walk began at Bedlam (the old furnaces beside the Severn), it was quiet in south Telford. We crossed the hill west of Woodside and descended (a little) to the coke hearth, before heading up to Sunniside, returning to the dale past the assorted livestock at the farm – donkeys, llamas, ostriches and geese (and possibly more). We’re heading for the tea room beside the old railway station (excellent cakes – worth hurrying to get there before they close at 3pm). Suitably refreshed, we follow the riverbank back to the car.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367415&Y=304216&A=Y&Z=120
The pipeworks
The first time I found the tiny bottle kiln, abandoned and apparently forgotten, in a quiet corner of Broseley, I was amazed. It had been used for firing the clay tobacco pipes made in the small factory alongside. With the industry in decline, it was closed and left to decay nearly 60 years ago. It’s now part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, one of their lesser-known sites. Other than necessary safety measures, the factory is preserved as found – a real “time capsule”. Well worth an hour’s exploration.
Sunday strolling
A walk down to the Severn below Coalport, following the river, the canal and the old railway track to Ironbridge. Tea and scones are available at the YHA near the china museum – just the thing to get us back up Bridge Bank.
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