Celebrations planned to mark gorge's place in history

A two-day celebration is planned to mark 40 years since the Ironbridge Gorge was declared a world heritage site.

The area was recognised by UNESCO in 1986 for its claim to be the birthplace of the industrial revolution.

The celebrations on 28 and 29 November will include demonstrations of traditional iron working, a lantern parade, a market and illuminated coracles floating down the River Severn.

The weekend will be incorporated into this year's Telford Day - an annual event which was first held last year.

Telford and Wrekin Council said the weekend will be an opportunity to mark the anniversary, and to also recognise the importance of the gorge to the community today.

On Saturday 28 November, the celebrations will take place along the Wharfage in Ironbridge with more than 100 craft, food and drink stalls.

The council said there will also be a fairground at Merrythought Village and live entertainment.

On Saturday evening, there will be a lantern parade through the streets ahead of the Christmas lights switch on and fireworks.

The lanterns have been created in workshops held across Telford, including in Lawley, Oakengates, Sutton Hill, Ironbridge and Donnington.

More than 100 have been made, inspired by this year's themes of ingenuity, engineering, iron smelting, the River Severn and the landscape of the gorge.

As well as being used in the parade, the lanterns will go on display in a Telford Day lantern garden.

On Sunday 29 November, there will be activities in Ironbridge to show of traditional skills, local history and the natural environment of the gorge.

Across both days there will be displays of live iron casting in Dale End Park, showing how moulds are made and then filled with molten iron.

The completed casts will be revealed as part of the Sunday evening finale which will also involve live music, fire performances, the illuminated coracles and community lanterns.

Telford Day in the Ironbridge Gorge is free to attend and takes place between 12:00 GMT and 20:00 GMT on both days.

Parking in the town is likely to be limited, but there will be a park and ride service from Jiggers Bank operating from 11:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT across the weekend.

There will also be a shuttle service from Madeley, with additional parking available at National Trust sites at Blists Hill and Coalbrookdale.

While the focus this year will be on Ironbridge, Telford and Wrekin Council says Telford Day was created to celebrate the whole area.

It has suggested people can also get involved by organising community events, supporting other local businesses and attractions and by flying the Telford flag.

It was first unfurled last year after a competition for local school children in the summer of 2025 to create a symbol of civic pride.

More than 1,000 children took part, and the winning entry was raised on the first Telford day last year.

The Ironbridge Gorge got its reputation as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution because of the innovations of "iron masters", including Abraham Darby I, who transformed iron production.

Those innovations were are widely recognised as being the catalyst for the building of the bridges, railways and machinery of the modern world.

That claim to fame was recognised when UNESCO designated the area a World Heritage Site. The history of the area can be learnt about at the areas museums and sites of interest, now operated by the National Trust.

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