Ironbridge museums at 50: Archive is gorge's real hidden treasure
In its 50 years the Ironbridge Gorge Museum has preserved and showcased much of the physical industrial heritage of the area.
But it has also preserved precious records and memories.
Its library and archive at Coalbrookdale is a goldmine of information with books, journals, directories, pictures, documentation, memorabilia, and the voices of the past all recorded.
It is another side of the museum's work, that of recording the remarkable story of how this part of Shropshire was at the heart of changes which sparked the Industrial Revolution thanks to pioneering ironfounders and entrepreneurs who made it their home, as well as the men and women since.
There are, for instance, around 10,000 images of local people in its photographic collection.
There are, though, some surprising gaps too.
Despite years of searching, not a single image has yet been discovered which shows a car crossing the Iron Bridge, which was closed to traffic in 1934.
Less surprising is the lack of a single image of the early generations of the Darby dynasty, with the consequence that Abraham Darby IV, through no fault of his own, finds his face being used and wrongly being given the credit for the groundbreaking feats of his forebears.
"Abraham Darby I, II, and III, because they were Quakers, thought it was vanity to have their portrait captured," explains Jo Smith, the museum's registrar. There are a lot of pictures of Abraham Darby IV on the internet described as being Abraham Darby III."
There is, however, supposedly an image of Abraham Darby III, the builder of the Iron Bridge, within the structure of the bridge itself, in an alleged historical 'selfie'.
"If you stand in a certain position you are supposed to be able to see his face in the centre," Jo added. "The way the bits go together is supposed to look like a portrait. People say that's Abraham Darby III. You can sort of see a face in there, but it could be a coincidence."
She added: "It would be nice to have a picture of a vehicle crossing the Iron Bridge. That has eluded us for a long time. We have a picture of an elephant on the Iron Bridge – but an elephant driving a car would be better!"
Jo has been with the museum for 27 years, but went there first on a community programme in 1982.
Today's extensive library and archive is open to the public doing research by appointment, although it is stressed it is not a place for people to do family history research as it does not have the relevant resources, such as censuses.
It had small beginnings. Jo said: "The original museum offices were at Southside, Ironbridge. They were based there for quite a while.
"The library started out really as a couple of cupboards of things at the old Co-op building in Ironbridge – now Truffles café. It was very cramped."
The library moved to its current location, the Long Warehouse at Coalbrookdale, in 1983, following a refurbishment of the building, and has gradually expanded ever since. For 30 years the librarian was John Powell.
Its collection is a vital resource for museum staff, providing information, images, and objects for exhibitions, building restoration and repair, as well as offering a research library for academics.
The museum holds a number of collections which are of national and international importance, including works of art. One of the foremost of these is the Elton Collection – Sir Arthur Elton was one of the early pioneers of documentary film making and during his life he put together a unique collection of art. And the museum library's oldest item? It's De Re Metallica, by Georgius Agricola, which dates back to 1556.
