Traditional ceramics and fine china adorn the displays of the Coalport China Museum. A bottle-shaped redbrick kiln and the unusual riverside workshops leave a lasting impression of the haunting architectural landscape of Victorian Britain. Attend demonstrations and participate in hands-on activities in the studios of this nostalgic look back to the nation’s teatime customs.
The site is one of the 10 Ironbridge Gorge Museums providing information on Shropshire’s history in design and construction. Enter the museum and appreciate the intricate handmade objects, such as vases and teapots. These historic artifacts offer an insight into the tastes of aristocratic families, queens and tsars.
Choose your favorites from the flower-covered forms of the Coalbrookdale-ware. Fine examples of Caughley porcelain are also on display in the museum. Read about the history of the factory and the conditions of the workers.
Drop in at the riverside studios to learn about tips and techniques passed down for generations. Children and adults will have the chance to make pottery pieces, before painting them and taking them home. Bring your kids to the Children’s Gallery, where puzzles, dress-up opportunities and games keep them entertained. The two bottle-necked kilns, which are open to visitors, generate an otherworldly ambiance beside the River Severn.
Decipher the history of Coalport China, which made English products here between 1796 and 1926. On display is the company’s largest piece of china ever made, the Northumberland Vase. Look through the selection of chinaware and souvenirs in the gift shop.
Open daily from late morning until late afternoon, the site welcomes visitors for a small fee and offers discounts for seniors and children. The Coalport China Museum straddles the northern flank of a bend in the River Severn in the southern part of Telford. Drive south from the town center for about 10 minutes to reach the site. Across the street is the Coalport Village Hall. The Inclined Plane and Maws Craft Centre are among other nearby attractions to add to your visit.
