| South Telford Heritage Trail | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Iron Bridge and St Lukes Church, Ironbridge, part of the walk's route | |
| Length | 12.2 miles (19.6 km)[1] |
| Location | Telford, Shropshire, England |
| Trailheads | Telford Town Park |
| Use | Hiking |
| Season | All year |
The South Telford Heritage Trail is a circular, waymarked walking route that passes by forty-nine heritage sites in the English town of Telford.
The trail begins and ends in Telford Town Park and passes through the parishes of Stirchley & Brookside, Madeley, Dawley Hamlets and the Ironbridge Gorge. The route follows the remains of a network of canals, tramways, railways, coal-mines, brickworks, potteries and ironworks that once flourished in the area. The trail can be walked in its entirety in 5–6 hours.
Telford was established as a new town in 1968. Within its boundaries it incorporated many old settlements and communities, some dating back to the Domesday Book. During the 18th and 19th centuries the area was noted for its coal mines, iron works, china factories and brickworks.
By the beginning of the 20th century much of this industry had declined and by the 1960s, what remained was a legacy of uncapped mineshafts, derelict buildings, abandoned quarries, spoil heaps and pit mounds. The development of Telford and thoughtful landscaping has removed or hidden many of these scars. However, throughout the area of South Telford there remains a wealth of heritage sites. These include the canals, railways, mines, ironworks, houses and fine buildings associated with the area's industrial past. Many of these heritage sites are easily missed by the casual walker and their contributions to the rich history of the area are less well known.
The aim of the South Telford Heritage Trail is to bring attention the area's history by offering a self-guided walking route that links known and lesser known heritage sites within South Telford and to provide information about each site.
The forty-nine heritage sites that the trail passes are as follows:
| No. | Heritage Site |
|---|---|
| 1. | Malinslee Chapel |
| 2. | Randlay Pool |
| 3. | Blue Pool |
| 4. | Stirchley Chimney |
| 5. | Stirchley Grange Colliery |
| 6. | Northwood Terrace |
| 7. | Rose and Crown Public House |
| 8. | Stirchley Village School |
| 9. | St James' Church, Stirchley |
| 10. | Stirchley Hall |
| 11. | Route of the London North Western Railway Branch Line to Coalport |
| 12. | The Aqueduct |
| 13. | St Paul's Church, Aqueduct |
| 14. | Foster's Row & Britannia Inn |
| 15. | Madeley Salop Railway Station |
| 16. | Madeley Windmill |
| 17. | Madeley Court |
| 18. | Madeley High Street |
| 19. | Jubilee House, Madeley |
| 20. | St Michael's Church, Madeley |
| 21. | All Nations Public House |
| 22. | Lee Dingle Bridge |
| 23. | Blists Hill Tunnel |
| 24. | Hay Inclined Plane, Blists Hill |
| 25. | Jackfield and Coalport Memorial Footbridge |
| 26. | Maws Tile Works |
| 27. | Craven Dunnill Encaustic Tile Works |
| 28. | Jackfield Sidings & Severn Valley Railway |
| 29. | Station Hotel & Ironbridge and Broseley Railway Station |
| 30. | The Iron Bridge |
| 31. | The Wharfage, Ironbridge |
| 32. | Coalbrookdale Railway Station |
| 33. | View of Coalbrookdale |
| 34. | Quaker Burial Ground, Coalbrookdale |
| 35. | Darby Houses & Tea Kettle Row, Coalbrookdale |
| 36. | Great Western Railway Viaduct, Coalbrookdale |
| 37. | Jiggers Bank & Toll House |
| 38. | New Pool |
| 39. | Rough Park Way |
| 40. | Lightmoor Crossing |
| 41. | Tub Boat Bridge |
| 42. | Shropshire Canal |
| 43. | Castle Pools |
| 44. | Dawley Castle Site |
| 45. | Stirchley Wesleyan Chapel |
| 46. | Dawley and Stirchley Railway Station |
| 47. | Shropshire Canal |
| 48. | Ironworks Forge |
| 49. | Stone Row |
These sites also act as trail waypoints.
The trail was funded by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Stirchley & Brookside Parish Council.