National Trust reopens historic furnace after conservation work

The Old Furnace at Coalbrookdale has reopened in time for visitors to explore over the autumn and winter. 

The National Trust has completed the conservation work which initially began in 2025 by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (IGMT).

“We are delighted to see this work completed and The Old Furnace open again to visitors,” explains Lucy Oldnall, Conserving the Historic Estate Project Manager. 

“To protect this Scheduled Ancient Monument, we’ve restored the tentcover structure to protect it from erosion by the elements. Shielding it from all weathers will help keep conditions around the furnace stable and dramatically reduce stress from years of being exposed to fluctuating temperatures from freezing/thawing in the winter, along with increasingly wet winters and hotter summers.” 

The Old Furnace is of particular historical importance as it’s considered one of the birthplaces of the industrial revolution due to it being the first recorded location where coke was used successfully to smelt iron. Buried over the years, it was uncovered in the 1950s and inspired the founding of the industrial museum. 

“We’ve been keen to reopen this space to visitors who can now come and see The Old Furnace following the conservation work. It’s now open daily from 10am – 4.30pm with no booking needed. The landscaping work around the space will continue for a little longer as we finish relaying grass and gravel paths.” 

Protecting The Old Furnace is part of a programme of maintenance and repair works that was identified as part of a Quinquennial Review by Oliver Architecture in 2021 for Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, to better understand the condition of some of the 35 most important heritage assets across the site. The works so far have been funded, thanks to a successful bid of £5.5million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. 

Earlier this year, the National Trust acquired Ironbridge Gorge’s 10 museums, 35 listed buildings and 400,000 collection items at the World Heritage Site. It remains one of the largest acquisitions in the National Trust 130-year history and was made possible thanks to investment from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, as well as support from Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

“It’s great to see another significant building re-open for visitors”, says Ross Davidson, Visitor Experience Manager. “We are taking time to complete essential conservation and maintenance work to ensure historic buildings like the Old Furnace can be enjoyed now and in the future. You can follow updates about our work and re-opening progress on our website and social channels.” 

There is no need to book in advance to visit The Old Furnace, Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron or The Furnace Kitchen. Visits to other sites including Blists Hill Victorian Town, Jackfield Tile Museum, Coalport China Museum, and Broseley Pipeworks all need to be pre-booked. Bookings can be made via the National Trust website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ironbridge-gorge