Visit Blists Hill Victorian town to be transported more than 100 years back in time.
A place to experience life from a bygone era - This bustling town is set in a large valley with working examples of homes, shops and workshops.
As you make your way through town - the smell of coal fires, mixed with the sights and sounds of professional Victorian Actors and a Horse and cart really give you a sense of wonder.
So yes - time travel IS indeed possible!
Seriously though, Blists Hill is a living museum located near Telford, Shropshire. The shops are staffed by actors in period costumes who are more than happy to chat about their lives and how things used to be.
Visit the bank and you can withdraw some shillings to spend on freshly baked buns, delicious fish and chips, a pint, classic sweets, addictive fair ground games and hand made candles.
Now, we decided to visit before Christmas - back in 2016. From Northamptonshire It took us about an hour and a half to drive there and we found it very easy to park once we had arrived.
As it was Christmas, we had promised to take the kids to see Santa. Trying to avoid queues, we hurried through the entrance and marched down the old cobbled street to see Santa in his makeshift grotto.
Luckily - we were only the second family there and soon found ourselves whisked straight through to see the big man.
Now I'll be honest, I truly believed that Santa came from the North Pole! So to my astonishment when he spoke, out bellowed a thick set Birmingham accent!
On this occasion, (two separate festive weekends) in the run up to Christmas - Reindeer were led about the town for visitors to admire. There's just something whimsical about Reindeer, don't you think?
One managed to wriggle free from its reigns and give the carer a good old run around! Quite nimble things really.
"Oh Deer!" I thought.
Who can honestly say that they liked school?
If you think yours was bad, sit through a lesson in a Victorian classroom.WOW! Talk about a strict teacher, if you or your family are sensitive, I'd probably avoid this lesson. Looked like hell!
After a stroll down the main cobbled street, past houses, stables and shops we came across a hillside tram. I couldn't wait to have a go and before we knew it we were travelling up the steep hillside. At the top is a viewing platform that gives you a terrific view of the whole site.
After a few more hours visiting everything Blists Hill had to offer we jumped back to the future and took a short car journey to the Iron bridge.
Well we couldn't leave without having a look, could we? The world famous Iron Bridge spans the River Severn.
Here are some incredible facts I didn't know until now:
1) This Bridge was the first Bridge to be made completely from Iron.......in the whole world
2) It was a symbol of the Industrial Revolution
3) Iron Gorge Bridge is as important as the Pyramids of Giza being a world heritage site.
Up from the bridge we had just enough time to visit one more museum. The Museum of the Gorge let itself down. Basically this museum consists of four sparse rooms with a large model of the Iron Gorge Bridge banks.
As there isn't much space around the model you can only see one side of it.
Come on - use a mirror or move the thing. Really show it off, guys! Before leaving the museum you enter an auditorium and can watch a short educational film. Very informative and in my opinion the museums saving Grace.
On the wall of one of the rooms inside this museum is flood lines - showing how deep the River Severn has flooded this area over the years.
You would need your scuba diving kit on some occasions!
As it was getting late and we needed to leave, we set off heading back towards our car.
As we approached the Iron Bridge once more a shop sign caught my eye.
"Eleys World Famous Pork pies!" WOW! They have succeeded where others have failed - made a pork pie better than anyone in the whole, wide world.
Needless to say, I had to have one. It wasn't cheap but hey you pay for what you get right? I had to wait until we got home to sample my World class pie. Unwrapping it I tried to imagine how it might taste.
A crumbly, short pastry. Tender, juicy meat and that typical pork pie jelly! Yum!
Have you ever tried one of these World Famous pies yet? Don't tell Pork Pies!
How was your experience?
We loved our visit to Iron Gorge and will definitely return - whenever we can. Here is a price list correct as of January 16th 2017.
http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/plan-your-visit/ticket-prices/
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