Ironbridge Museums
- Last updated:
- 15 October 2025
From spring 2026 we will take on the care and management of the museums that represent the birthplace of the industrial revolution within the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site in Shropshire.
Ironbridge Gorge Museums
The Ironbridge Gorge is a globally-important UNESCO World Heritage site, meaning it is recognised internationally as being ‘of outstanding value to humanity’, comprised of buildings, structures and artefacts of international, national and local significance.
There are ten museums within the Gorge site, including the Blists Hill Victorian Town and Enginuity museums all of which will transfer to our care.
Investment
This has been made possible thanks to £9 million investment provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). We are also grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England for funding and ongoing support throughout the process.
Our goal is to grow the number of people that visit Ironbridge Gorge’s museums, tackle the barriers that often prevent people from engaging with heritage and continue and deepen the site’s strong appeal for families through events, programming and storytelling that bring its unique history to life.
Ironbridge Gorge is widely regarded as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, which paved the way for the scientific and technological innovation that defines our world today. The site is an example of British ingenuity, a source of immense national and community pride and a distinct and much-loved icon of our shared heritage. I cannot think of something more at home in the National Trust's care - an institution built to protect and preserve the things our nation loves on behalf of everyone, everywhere.
Partnership
We will be working closely together with The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust during the transition period and will also work with partners up and down the gorge to care for the area, its buildings and collections, creating a fantastic experience for every visitor and a sense of renewal to the local community.
Visiting
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust will continue to manage and operate the 10 museums and building and monuments in its care until spring 2026 when we expect the transfer to complete. Following this our members will be able to visit the sites for free as part of their membership.
Until spring 2026 visitors should go to the Ironbridge Gorge Museums website for information on events and opening hours during the period.
The future
We are only just starting to work on our plans for the museums and collections in the Ironbridge Gorge and will update this webpage with information timelines, access and our plans for this amazing site over the coming months.
