Experience days and workshops at Ironbridge museums bring traditional crafts to life
In 2025 the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust is running a series of Victorian Experience Days and adult craft workshops where participants can have a go at traditional trades and crafts in the Trust’s museums, located in the Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Victorian Experience Days are taking place from now until December at Blists Hill Victorian Town, a reconstruction of a working-class town in 1900. Participants can choose to spend their day having a go at a blacksmithing, printing or hat decorating, in the authentic surroundings of Blists Hill Victorian Town and wearing Victorian costume.
Visitors who opt to be a blacksmith for the day will learn the essentials of working in a forge from the town’s expert blacksmith, getting hands-on and making their very own coat hook, fire poker and bottle opener. On the Printers Experience Day they will learn the art of printmaking and typesetting and create their own unique poster. Participants on the Victorian Hat Decorating Experience Day will take a tour of Blists Hill's costume department before decorating their own Victorian straw boater hat.
As an additional souvenir, participants take home a photo of themselves in costume taken in Blists Hill’s traditional photographer's studio.
The Trust’s adult craft workshops are held in the studio at Coalport China Museum, located in what was formerly Coalport China Works. Participants can take inspiration from the museum’s collections to make their own clay creations. In the spring participants can make a ceramic March hare or create a garden lantern. Later in the year, workshops will include making a ceramic bird bath and feeder, print making, china painting, raku firing, making Christmas decorations and more. The wide range of workshops are designed for beginners as well as those with some prior experience looking to explore new techniques for working with clay.
At the end of their Experience Day or workshop all participants have their own unique objects to take home.
Ross Davidson, Visitor Engagement Officer at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, said: “Our Experience Days at Blists Hill Victorian Town are a unique opportunity to have a go at trades that have been practised in the Ironbridge Gorge for centuries while the adult craft workshops are the opportunity to get hands-on and creative with clay.
“These fun but informative sessions, organised in small groups to ensure that participants get the close attention of the artist or expert who is guiding them, help us raise awareness and protect the future of heritage crafts.”
Experience Days and workshops run on selected dates throughout the year. They must be booked in advance. For full details visit ironbridge.org.uk/events/experience-days-workshops.
