The South Telford Heritage Trail is a circular, waymarked walking route that passes by forty-nine heritage sites in the English town of Telford.
The route
The trail begins and ends in Telford Town Park and passes through the parishes of Stirchley & Brookside, Madeley, Dawley Hamlets and the Ironbridge Gorge. The route follows the remains of a network of canals, tramways, railways, coal-mines, brickworks, potteries and ironworks that once flourished in the area. The trail can be walked in its entirety in 5–6 hours.
History
Telford was established as a new town in 1968. Within its boundaries it incorporated many old settlements and communities, some dating back to the Domesday Book. During the 18th and 19th centuries the area was noted for its coal mines, iron works, china factories and brickworks.
By the beginning of the 20th century much of this industry had declined and by the 1960s, what remained was a legacy of uncapped mineshafts, derelict buildings, abandoned quarries, spoil heaps and pit mounds. The development of Telford and thoughtful landscaping has removed or hidden many of these scars. However, throughout the area of South Telford there remains a wealth of heritage sites. These include the canals, railways, mines, ironworks, houses and fine buildings associated with the area's industrial past. Many of these heritage sites are easily missed by the casual walker and their contributions to the rich history of the area are less well known.
Aims of the Trail
The aim of the South Telford Heritage Trail is to bring attention the area's history by offering a self-guided walking route that links known and lesser known heritage sites within South Telford and to provide information about each site.
The Heritage Sites
The forty-nine heritage sites that the trail passes are as follows:
No. Heritage Site 1. Malinslee Chapel 2. Randlay Pool 3. Blue Pool 4. Stirchley Chimney 5. Stirchley Grange Colliery 6. Northwood Terrace 7. Rose and Crown Public House 8. Stirchley Village School 9. St James' Church, Stirchley 10. Stirchley Hall 11. Route of the London North Western Railway Branch Line to Coalport 12. The Aqueduct 13. St Paul's Church, Aqueduct 14. Foster's Row and Britannia Inn 15. Madeley Salop Railway Station 16. Madeley Windmill 17. Madeley Court 18. Madeley High Street 19. Jubilee House, Madeley 20. St Michael's Church, Madeley 21. All Nations Public House 22. Lee Dingle Bridge 23. Blists Hill Tunnel 24. Hay Inclined Plane, Blists Hill 25. Jackfield and Coalport Memorial Footbridge 26. Maws Tile Works 27. Craven Dunnill Encaustic Tile Works 28. Jackfield Sidings and Severn Valley Railway 29. Station Hotel and Ironbridge and Broseley Railway Station 30. The Iron Bridge 31. The Wharfage, Ironbridge 32. Coalbrookdale Railway Station 33. View of Coalbrookdale 34. Quaker Burial Ground, Coalbrookdale 35. Darby Houses and Tea Kettle Row, Coalbrookdale 36. Great Western Railway Viaduct, Coalbrookdale 37. Jiggers Bank and Toll House 38. New Pool 39. Rough Park Way 40. Lightmoor Crossing 41. Tub Boat Bridge 42. Shropshire Canal 43. Castle Pools 44. Dawley Castle Site 45. Stirchley Wesleyan Chapel 46. Dawley and Stirchley Railway Station 47. Shropshire Canal 48. Ironworks Forge 49. Stone Row
These sites also act as trail waypoints.
Funding
The trail was funded by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Stirchley & Brookside Parish Council.
References
External links The South Telford Heritage Trail