The National Trust is a custodian of British history, and it’s just announced a significant addition to its roster.
Ownership of Ironbridge Gorge, a Shropshire site made up of historic buildings, museums, and artefacts, will be passed to the National Trust next spring. The current managers, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, hope the change will ‘secure [its] long-term future and prosperity’.
Even for the National Trust, which looks after plenty of fascinating castles and magical forests, Ironbridge Gorge is a special place. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, meaning that an expert panel determined it to be a place of ‘outstanding value to humanity’ thanks to its fascinating history and collection of over 400,000 artefacts.
Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, the region operated as ‘the Silicon Valley of its day’, according to its website. UNESCO says that it shows ‘all the elements of progress that contributed to the rapid development’ of the industrial revolution’, from the essential materials that were mined and treated here to the cutting-edge railways that transported them in and out of the area.
Many of the original industrial buildings and tools remain in good condition and open to visitors at Ironbridge Gorge. When the National Trust takes over in spring 2026, it will acquire all of the Gorge Trust’s historic properties, including 35 listed buildings, like a huge 1800s furnace, an immersive living Victorian village, and a tile museum.
The Ironbridge Trust is able to pass the baton thanks to a £9 million grant from the government. Culture minister Lisa Nandy described the area as ‘the birthplace of the industrial revolution’, adding that it is ‘vital that the museums in the Ironbridge Gorge are protected as a key heritage asset in this country…
‘It is rich with the history of ingenious Britons who designed and constructed so many iconic pieces of engineering, from steam engines to iron boats’.
Once the handover is complete, National Trust members will have access to the site’s listed buildings, monuments, and 10 museums for free. The charity has revealed that it hopes to nearly double annual visitor numbers – from 330,000 to 600,000 – over the next few years, and intends to make it more accessible for families as part of that plan.
Until the takeover, the Ironbridge Gorge site will operate as usual under the ownership of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. An access-all-areas pass is £30 for adults, and you can book a visit here.
Here’s a quick look at what the National Trust is about to acquire.
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