We had a long weekend with the Berkshire branch of the Cambridge Society. Thirty-five of us met up for a visit to the Severn Valley Railway, and Iron Bridge.

First we met up at the Wenlock Edge Inn near to the market town of Wenlock. Had an excellent baguette for lunch and a pint of Hobsons. Afterwards there was a geological walk along the Wenlock ridge for the able people, and a visit around Wenlock and the priory for those not so able. I had to succumb to the leg and visited the priory.

Afterwards we went back and booked into the hotel in Telford, had drinks, dinner and a presentation of the local geology by Peter Worsley, professor from Oxford University.

The next day was a tour around Bridgenorth, highlights were the castle, as seen by Time Team, the church and the ride on the Cliff railway. Next it was on to the Severn Valley Railway and a tour of Country Park, led by a very articulate and enthusiastic guide who had set up the park.

Back at the hotel it was time for dinner, and then a talk about Ironbridge by Ken Jones, a guide and author of an Ironbridge book.

Sunday was a tour of Ironbridge; we started with the Coalbrookedale Museum of Iron and then Darby House. Abraham Darby was the first person to smelt iron with coke instead of charcoal. He started this in Coalbrookdale. Another Darby, Abraham Darby the Third built the first to build an iron bridge.

After this we went and walked over the Ironbridge, and then had lunch in Mrs Peacock’s Pantry.

The afternoon was spent in Blists Hill. This is a museum located on another mining and smelting site. The museum has also been set up to recreate a village. People recreating the feel of the house inhabited each house. These people interacted with the visitors, and in the shops also traded with the visitors. We visited here 10 years ago. It had changed over the time, and was well worth the visit. 

Pictures and a full write up in a few weeks.

Much thanks to the organiser Catherine Side.