Home »Broseley »

Broseley

Situated only 4 miles from the nearby town of Much Wenlock, Broseley sits on the lip of the wooded Ironbridge Gorge and houses many reminders of its industrial past. The houses of the rich ironmaster's and merchants remain, as do the 'jitties'. These winding lanes still cling to the slopes of the hillside, threading their way through what was a shanty town of squatters cottages.

Don't be fooled by Broseley's modest claim to be 'an early industrial town'. Any heavy industry has long since gone and today the town is more of a pleasant and picturesque place to visit. However, before taking its place amongst Shropshire's sedate countryside, one of the towns main claims to fame was that local stone was quarried from the nearby Broseley Wood and was used in the construction of Buildwas Abbey. The stone was cut and floated upstream along the River Severn.

Additionally the first ever flanged railway was constructed in the town and the World's first iron boat was built in the vicinity by John Wilkinson.

Worth a special visit is the Broseley Clay Pipeworks Museum a unique attraction which is housed in the former Southorn's Pipe Factory. Although the doors closed in 1957 after 350 years of pipe manufacture, today the works have turned into a museum and visitors will be forgiven for feeling as though the workforce has only just left.

The original tools lie on benches and clay is stacked in the yard, ready for use. The original bottle kiln has been restored and a resident pipe maker gives demonstrations at weekends during the summer months.

The pipes made in the factory would once have been shipped worldwide. For 30 years the last pipeworks slumbered beneath the dust and clay. Today, the clay tobacco pipe museum is putting Broseley on the map again.

Nearby you will also find the beautiful Benthall Hall (National Trust) and church.

Abraham Darby (who smelted coal using coke) is burried in the town - unfortunately he does have any claim to fame for involvement with Coalport China!

Those wanting to explore Broseley on foot should obtain a copy of the Broseley Town Trail leaflet from the local library.

Broseley Customer First Point which is based at Broseley library keeps local information for visitors and has a great local history resource.