See life as it was over one hundred years ago at Blists Hill.
When: 17th – 18th August 2013
Where: Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Shropshire (the sat nav postcode is TF7 5DU)
£: Admission costs £15.95 for adults, £12.50 for the 60+ and £10.50 for children. An annual Passport Ticket for all ten Ironbridge museums, with unlimited return visits, costs £24 for adults, £19 for the 60+, £15.25 for students and children and £65 for a family; under 5s go free. There is a car parking charge of £1.50.
What is it?
Blists Hill Victorian Town, one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums, where life is recreated as it was over one hundred years ago, will be hosting a spectacular demonstration of wheelwright skills this weekend.
Even in 1900 most road traffic was still horse-drawn and wheelwrighting was an essential trade in town and country. Derbyshire wheelwright Chris Wright will be visiting Blists Hill Victorian Town and letting visitors in on the secrets of how wooden cart wheels are made with a combination of his intimate knowledge of timber and precise wood working skills.
The highlight of the display will be when the wheels are finished with a steel tyre. Made slightly smaller than the wheel itself, first it has to be heated in an open wood fire to expand it just enough to fit over the wheel. Once forced into position, cold water is quickly poured over the tyre which contracts as it cools, pulling the wheel tightly together.
Demonstrations will take place in the Saw Mill Yard at Blists Hill Victorian Town on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August with tyre fitting taking place between 2pm and 3pm each afternoon.
More info: www.ironbridge.org.uk