Ironbridge adventure

My Ironbridge adventure began at The Water Rat Inn, which is on the outskirts of Ironbridge.

After checking in I stretched my legs in the garden, which is right next to the River Severn.

For a few moments I thought that the Bridge just along from The Water Rat was The Ironbridge. On closer inspection it definitely wasn’t. The Bridge below is the Albert Edward Bridge built 85 years after the Ironbridge in 1864!

While out exploring with the humans I found The Ironbridge! It was built in 1779; the first iron bridge in the world.

I had a peep at the river through the railings on each side of the bridge.

After walking a couple of miles along the river we arrived at the China works which looked very interesting but wasn’t open as we got there quite late.

On the road leading to Ironbridge we found remains of the Bedlam furnaces. They were built in 1756 and used coke to smelt iron at very high temperatures.

A very large bear lives at the Ironbridge Interiors shop at the Merrythought Village. He is called Dane and made me feel rather small.

After exploring it was good to have a rest on the comfy bed.

The next morning I enjoyed a yummy cooked breakfast.

After breakfast I set off to find some more small bears like me. Merrythought bears are made in Ironbridge.

Unfortunately the shop and museum wasn’t open while I was there. There were lots of small bears waiting for homes in the window.

Some very big bears too!

The humans were going to visit Blists Hill Victorian Town outdoor museum. It is a couple of miles from Ironbridge centre so I climbed into the bear carrier to get there. The walk involved going uphill through the woods so I was glad to have a lift.

Blists Hill is a recreated Victorian Shropshire town.

At the admission desk people are given a newspaper with information and a map of the site.

At the entrance to the town I met the policeman. We had a nice chat about where I was from so I told him all about me being originally from Alresford in Hampshire.

In Victorian times coal was very important. Here I am on the coal merchants cart. I did make sure it wasn’t covered in coal dust before climbing up!

In the bike store I climbed up onto a Hercules Artisan. I think it needed a good clean and a service.

Next I called in at Bryan the Draper’s shop.

There was selection of caps, with one in my size so I tried it on. I think it suits me!

The grocer’s shop looked interesting so after posing for a photo I went in to have a look round.

The cash register was enormous; nothing like the computerised tills that shops have nowadays.

Next stop was the Chemist shop that had interesting items in the window.

We have a stone hot water bottle a bit like the one in the window. When we used to have a rabbit it was filled with hot water and used to heat the rabbit hutch in winter.

Inside there were many strange creams and potions. I think my face looks a bit crooked in the reflection.

The dentist’s chair looked very well worn.

I must admit I wasn’t keen to sit in the chair until a lovely lady suggested I should try it. She had a quick look at my teeth and said they were all in excellent condition and reminded me not to eat too many sweets.

Next I was lured to the the sweetshop by the window display.

I was about to buy a bag of pear drops, then remembered the words of the dentist so quickly left the sweetshop.

The fair was in town and I watched the brightly painted horses (and chickens) go up and down as the carousel went round and round.

I had a ride on one called ‘Manto’ and had to hold on tight as he went up and down.

Afterwards I said “Hello” to Flash, who was waiting to give rides to small children.

I had a rest outside a little cottage with tin bath hung up outside.

The outside toilet was next to the pig stye. Things were very different for humans in Victorian times and have changed massively in the last 150 years.