Coalport & Blists Hill
Our Coalport section starts from The New Bridge at the end of Waterloo Street. Take the narrow lane running along the north side of the Severn.
At the next junction turn left onto Coalport Road and after about half-a-mile you will see the entrance to Blists Hill Victorian Town
Blists Hill Victorian Town [24]
 One of the gorge's most popular attractions and operated by the Ironbridge Museum Trust, the museum is a massive open-air complex re-creating life in a small industrial town during the 19th century.
All the staff are dressed in period costume and are many specially-trained to demonstrate the crafts and trades of the times.
Coalport
 From the museum retrace your route back along Coalport Road, but turn left at the next junction into Coalport itself.
Coalport was really the vision of an iron master called William Reynolds in the late 1700's who saw the area as a hub for the iron industry and built warehouses, factories and accommodations for his workers.
The Hay Incline System [25]
 This was developed to move boats from the river up to the Shropshire Canal by hauling these vehicles on wooden rails with the use of steam engine power.
The distance was some 350 yards and the equivalent work of 27 locks. The last operation was in 1894 and it officially closed in 1907. The best view of the system can be obtained by standing on the small vehicle bridge by The Shakespeare Inn. There is also a public footpath up one side of the incline.
Tar Tunnel [26]
 On the Coalport side of the bridge is the Tar Tunnel, operated by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.
The tar tunnel is an unusual source of natural bitumen. Discovered over 200 years ago, you can still see the black tar oozing from the walls.
Coalport China Museum [27]
 The former Coalport china works has now been converted into an exhibition area to display the National Collections of Caughley and Coalport china.
China was made on the site from 1796 until 1926 when it moved to the bigger china manufacturing county of Staffordshire. However the museum represents all the initial efforts. Daily demonstrations of china-making can be seen in the workshops and visitors can purchase fine examples of all their work in the museum shop.
When you turn into the Museum car park you will pass a long brick building on the street which is where John Rose moved his pottery works to when William Reynolds tempted him to leave Jackfield in 1792.
By the early 1800's his porcelain was attracting worldwide attention. One of Rose’s workers was Thomas Minton who eventually left and went into his own business making the famous Mintonware in Staffordshire.
This building is the oldest remnant of the china works and is now a Youth Hostel. A cafe and craft shop are open for visitors during the day.
Coalport Bridge
(The Woodbridge) [28]
 After leaving the car park we shall head towards out sixth bridge, Coalport Bridge or "The Woodbridge", thus named because it was originally made of wood.
Although it has seen better days the bridge still supports non-industrial traffic.
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