Sunday, January 24, 2010

Mist over the Severn

What a day we chose to travel into Shropshire to visit one of our favourite places. The rain was persistent and the mist hung heavily over the River Severn giving an almost ethereal quality to both the light and the views.

This is the river Severn at Ironbridge - yes the famous iron bridge is there, honestly!

The bridge was the idea of an architect from Shrewsbury called Thomas Farnolls Prichard who suggested an iron bridge to local iron master John Wilkinson. Pritchard designed the bridge but died a month after the building started so never saw it in situ. It was built by Abraham Darby III.

When we visit we always like to walk over the bridge to the toll house which now houses the tourist information centre and a display about the building of the bridge. Above is the view back towards the town across the bridge.

We walked back into the town. Not surprisingly it was very quiet. The pavements were shiny and slippy with rain, the river was high and swollen but there were no flood barriers in evidence.

The bears in the Bears on the Square shop window were taking it all in their stride, safely tucked up and warm inside the shop.

We set off towards the Coalport China Museum and drove past the Ladywood bridge over the river on the way there. The bridge is also known locally as the Gateway to Broseley, the town famous for clay pipe manufacture.

The old china works stands between the River Severn and the Shropshire Canal. China was made here from 1796 until 1926 when manufacture moved to Stoke-on-Trent firstly to the Cauldon Potteries in Shelton, then to the Crescent Works in Stoke around 1955, later it moved to the Foley and Minerva works at Fenton before becoming a part of Wedgwood at Barlaston. The Coalport site became one of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums in 1976.

Inside it was very similar to the Gladstone Pottery Museum - which is not far from from where we live - but there were many differences too especially in the way the bottle ovens or kilns were built.


It was good to get into the warmth of the museum and out of the rain for a while. Below are more scenes from in and around the Museum.

21 comments:

  1. It's a really fascinating area,isn't it?
    Mr S and I have had three trips to Shropshire and we love the county.
    Thanks for the trip,Rosie!
    ;-)

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  2. This area has so much history associated with it ~ thanks for sharing your day with us Rosie.

    Sorry to be so slow at visiting these days, but life is so busy. I have three exams in the next two weeks and then I have to move for a three month clinical placement starting on 8th February.

    Marie x

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  3. Have only been to Ironbridge once -many moons ago. It was Easter and it was snowing! So I don't think we saw it at its best. We must go back one day and see it all properly. Kathy xxx

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  4. It's years since I was last at Coalport. After reading this I'm putting on my list of places to visit againpship.xx

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  5. It looks like a lovely place to visit on a less murky day! I am liking the cheery spring flowers in your blog header!

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  6. I do so love a foggy day!
    Especially one with teddy bears.

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  7. I love Ironbridge and the museum yearly passes are fantastic. Of course the teddy bear element is nice.LOL Merrythought used to have open days and as it was towards the end of the day, our couple of £1 entries to the tombola were 'rewarded' with two Merrythought Cheeky bears. That was a very pleasant Ironbridge visit;) Funny though, we missed the Coalport museum, nice to see the photos.

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  8. What a charming place, oh and the mist over the Severn makes eveything so mysterious! Love your new header, it's so cheerful! xxx

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  9. I love Ironbridge, such an interesting place. Thank you for sharing the trip with us.
    Love
    Lyn
    xxx

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  10. Thank you Rosie, this is a lovely post, and so interesting. I have never been to Ironbridge but it is somewhere I have always wanted to go to. You have spurred me into action! When the weather improves a bit, that is. Great pics too, very atmospheric.

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  11. Ironbridge is beautiful, even on awet and murky January day. Have you been to the tile museum? I thnik that's my favourite.

    Tracey

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  12. Ironbridge was the first place that Hubby and I visited when we first got together. We had a wonderful few days around the area - I especially loved the museum at Blits Hill where we exchanged our money for "old" money. It was the first place I ever saw a Kingfisher too. Your photos are really lovely and atmospheric.xxxx

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  13. Love the spring-y header photo. Have really enjoyed catching up with you. Your blog is so lovely.. I always feel refreshed after visiting with you.

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  14. What wonderful photographs, Rosie. How I'd love to visit that area. Your entry was a real treat.

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  15. A Lovely tour :o) The first pictures are certainly eerie and the chinaworks building looks interesting. Love the beautiful bears in the window too.

    Many Thanks for sharing xxx

    Sumea

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  16. Just discovered your beautiful blog, am enthralled by your photos, love the soft atmosphere provided by the fog, the quaint towns...also your cats!

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  17. Hello

    Just calling by to wish You a Happy weekend xxx
    It's turned cold here again in Somerset, with a little flurry of snow yesterday and heavy frost still on the ground this afternoon. It could bode well, they say if its cold over Imbolc and Candlemas there will be a hot summer (fingers crossed).

    Warm wishes

    Sumea

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  18. Your pics are breathtaking!! I love fog and rain photos. Thank you for sharing!

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