Bradford in Coalbrookdale.

We have just got in from seeing a fabulous concert at the Colston Hall in Bristol celebrating 80 years of BLOC (Bristol Light Operatic Club) founded in 1933. Grace is now a member and was singing and dancing in most things - shows from across the years plus some they would like to do if they became available. She had a solo song in My Fair Lady and two in Evita and Miss Saigon. Needless to say we thought she was wonderful and seemed especially suited to Evita.

As she was rehearsing all day we spent some more time in Shropshire this morning. We went to the Museum of the Gorge in Ironbridge and then about a mile up from the River Severn to Coalbrookdale to visit the Museum of Iron. This sounds a bit dull but it was really interesting. We had a guided tour showing us where the original foundry was from 1638 which was found and reopened by Abraham Darby in 1709 and essentially became the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Iron production till this time was essentially a cottage industry as charcoal was required and its use was limited as so much wood was required and the Navy had a priority call on it.

Abraham Darby made brass cooking pots in Bristol but wanted to make more economical iron ones. So he set up his new foundry and worked on developing coal into coke to remove the impurities to allow it to be used to make satisfactory cast iron. He succeeded and his iron making dynasty was formed. His grandson built the Ironbridge in 1779 as resources on one bank of the river had been used up and they needed to get across to the other side. It had to be a single span as the river was the main communication link before roads and rail were developed.

He succeeded and this became a great advertisement for Coalbrookdale cast iron, but it outgrew the vale and the Black Country developed with bigger sites for foundries and better communication links.

Coalbrookdale continued by turning to decorative and architectural cast iron producing many items for the Great Exhibition and such decorative iron work as the one above that used to be at the entrance to Bradford's Kirkgate Market. Imagine our surprise when we walked into the museum and saw it! The inset picture is a photo of the picture they have on display showing it in use and of course it was one of two made in Coalbrookdale.

Though not still owned by the Darby family, Coalbrookdale continues it's link with cast iron and right next to the museum is the site where the manufacture of Raeburn and AGA cookers takes place in this country.

4 more museums to go but they will have to wait till our next visit!