One of the wonders of the industrial age is celebrating a quarter of a century as a World Heritage Site. Victoria Farncombe reports.
It is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, where Quaker ironmaster Abraham Darby pioneered smelting iron using coke instead of charcoal.
His lasting monument, the cast iron bridge which gives the town its name, has come to be seen as the symbol of the revolution.
But 100 years ago, Ironbridge was considered a ghost town. Then in 1986, the burgeoning tourism site was picked as one of just six UK attractions to be awarded World Heritage Site (WHS) status alongside such international sites as the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef and the Pyramids.
Today it is a town transformed with no less than 10 museums and a wealth of high-end restaurants and hotels. Last year it attracted a record one million visitors who brought in an extra £20 million to the economy of the 6km-square area – crucial investment at a time when many attractions are feeling the pinch following the recession.
There are now 28 world heritage sites in Great Britain and Northern Ireland but, as of this year, it is becoming even harder for locations to achieve the badge of honour.
Those wanting it must demonstrate that they will be able to manage it long into the future with a development plan.
So, as Ironbridge gears up to celebrate 25 years as a WHS, chief executive Steve Miller has advice for the new kids on the block – recently designated sites or those hoping to be awarded the status in the coming years. Firstly, he wants to set the record straight about funding.
“What people wrongly assume is it brings statutory funding,” he says. “It doesn’t. But what it does bring is statutory protection in terms of what you can and can’t do in that area.
“We have lots of beautiful buildings, as well as our own museums, so if people want to change their buildings they have to put in for planning permission to ensure the changes retain the character.
“It also brings a kudos. When you put Ironbridge alongside the Great Pyramids, the Great Barrier Reef and the Taj Mahal, you can see the kind of power the WHS brings.”
Sites should also be prepared for the changes the status will bring, good and bad, on their community. These was particularly marked in Ironbridge which is not just a museum but a living, breathing town.
“We’re not just a museum, we’re a community with 4,000 residents,” says Steve. “It’s a place where people live and work and it’s also a museum. It’s all of those things rubbing against each other and that’s what gives it its special character.
