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Wednesday 30 May 2012

Severn Valley Part 3......

Our last day of this trip consisted of a visit to R.A.F. Cosford.  RAF Cosford is home to a variety of units, the principal ones being: the HQ Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering; the No 1 School of Technical Training; the No 1 Radio School; the Defence School of Photography; the RAF School of PT; and the University of Birmingham Air Squadron and they have a superb collection of over 70 aircraft displayed in three wartime hangars around the airfield.

We took lots of photos here which I've put into a slide show.




From Cosford we continued our journey to Ironbridge Gorge. Originally called the Severn Gorge, the gorge now takes its name from its famous Iron Bridge, the first iron bridge of its kind in the world, and a momument to the industry that began there.


The bridge was built in 1779 to link the industrial town of Broseley with the smaller mining town of Madeley and the growing industrial centre of Coalbrookdale.  There are two reasons the site was so useful to the early industrialists.  The raw materials, coal, iron ore, limestone and clay, for the manufacture of iron, tiles and procelain are exposed or easily mined in the gorge and the deep and wide river allowed easy transport of the products to the sea.

Our next stop was Blists Hill.   Blists Hill is an authentic reconstructed Victorian working town, complete with shops, a bank and a public house. Nestling at the bottom of the town, overlooking the Green and its traditional fun fair, the Forest Glen Refreshment Pavilion is an exquisite Victorian Tea Room.  Blists Hill is staffed by knowledgeable demonstrators who are delighted to explain the role their exhibit played in a Victorian community.   One of the first  buildings you come across at Blists Hill is the Bank where you can change your modern money for Victorian token coins to spend in the shops.  As you leave you can exchange any remaining coins at the Bank or keep them as souvenirs. Some aspects of the town are original to the site, such as the Blast Furnaces and the Brick and Tile Works, other buildings have been relocated brick by  brick mainly from the locality or have been newly built using detailed research and carefully sourced materials.  

We had a delicious meal in the licenced tea room before exploring the quaint surroundings.


 

All too soon our visit was over and it was time to make our way back to the car park to join our coach for the journey back to the hotel for dinner.    The following morning we started the journey home after a thoroughly enjoyable trip.

I hope you enjoyed our Severn Valley trip as much as we did.

20 comments:

la bellina mammina said...

Looks like so much fun! Lucky you!!! :-)

MorningAJ said...

I love Blists Hill. We had season tickets last year and went to all the museums during the 12 months. Broseley Pipe Works was my favourite - though it's small.

Your inchies are in the post, by the way.

Akelamalu said...

It was la bellina mammina :)

I loved Blists Hill too AJ, so interesting. Ooh how lovely, I'll let you know as soon as the inchies arrive. Thanks you so much. xx

Daryl said...

you are all bundled up .. I'll gladly send you some of the heat/humidity we've got here ..

thanks for taking us along, I enjoyed it immensely.

Commander Zaius said...

The aircraft museum was awesome! Going on vacation in June and will visit the 8th Air Force museum down around Savannah. Will post the photos I take there.

Akelamalu said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
katie eggeman said...

Blist Hill looks like a not to miss, town. I love re-creations. As usual a wonderful trip description.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i just LOVE all your trips!!!

hugs, bee
xoxoxoxoxo

Ron said...

M'dear, I so enjoy reading and seeing about your trips. Truly, you are so talented in sharing your travels with us - interesting, fun, and informative!

Great photos!

You look so beautiful. Love that gray coat you were wearing. And your hair style and color are smashing!!!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

X

Jenny Woolf said...

Such a lot to see. Blists Hill was one of our favourite outings but havent been recently, but that lovely tea room hasnt really changed thank goodness! We have never seen shire horses there but did see a pig in a pig sty once.

DId you ever visit the Crich open air tram museum in Derbyshire - it also has some nice old buildings and a lovely old tea room but not the events and activities that there are in Blists hill.

Akelamalu said...

This trip was at the beginning of April Daryl and it was chilly. We're basking in 30C at the moment!

Glad you enjoyed the RAF Cosford photos Beach. Looking forward to seeing yours.

Oh it is BankerChick. I love recreated towns too. One of the best I've been to is Sydney Old Town (Australia), it's fabulous!

I'm so happy you enjoy reading about our trips Bee xx

I'm so pleased you enjoy them Ron and thankyou for the lovely compliment. xx

Yes Blists Hill has such a lot to see Jenny. Not been to Crich Tram Museum but will put it on the 'to do' list. :)

CrystalChick said...

Lots of great photos and accompanying information! So glad you enjoyed the trip to Severn Valley.

Cloudia said...

you give a true and tasty visit to the England that lives in the breast of every English-speaking person; the Isle I'm unlikely to visit IRL - so all the more tasty and appreciated, Dear.



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Unknown said...

I'm going to read all the posts of the trip!

Akelamalu said...

We really did have a great time Crystal Chick

I'm so pleased you enjoyed it Cloudia x

I hope you enjoy Nick x

Secret Agent Woman said...

Wonderful tour, as always!

Travis Cody said...

So much wonderful history to see!

Akelamalu said...

Thanks SAW

Indeed there is Trav :)

Linda said...

Between your posts about all of your lovely trips and watching too many shows on BBC America, I SO want to get over there to visit!

Your history is just amazing and the places are so interesting looking, I think I'd need at least a month if not longer! Darn it, where's that lottery win when I need it?!?

Akelamalu said...

Oh yes, you do need to come over here Linda to see it all for yourself. I think a six month first visit, then a month a year after that. ;)