Heroes celebrated at Ironbridge museums

The Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust are holding family friendly activities from May 27 to June 4.

It is part of the museum's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Hands-on activities bring the inventions of past heroes to life at Blists Hill Victorian Town, near Ironbridge

Youngsters can discover more about Victorian engineering heroes and inspirational inventors, all would have been regarded as superheroes of their day.

Transform a smartphone into a Box Brownie camera with a special cover at the photographers and hear about Julia Cameron, one of the greatest Victorian photographers who was known for her portraits of celebrities.

Then visitors can learn about Morse Code in the Town’s Post Office; Samuel Morse revolutionised long distance communication and allowed people to send messages across the world.

Go along to Speakers Corner at 2pm where all ages can follow in the footsteps of the famous Victorian social campaigner Millicent Fawcett, who fought for women to have the right to vote.

Props and scripts will be available to help get into character.

Have a go at packing tea in the Grocers and learn about Ferdinand de Lesseps.

The French diplomat and engineer was the driving force behind the building of the Suez Canal, which halved journey times from India and made tea more affordable for working people.

Finally try the Izod tester in the Ironworks between 2pm and 4pm; named after its inventor, Edwin Gilbert Izod, the tester determines the impact strength of metals.

On Bank Holiday Monday Blists Hill’s own ‘engineers’ will demonstrate how a large, steel oil drum can be crushed using less than a cup of water. This simple but very effective ‘trick’ was developed by Thomas Newcomen when he invented the world’s first steam engine.

There will also be a self-led trail around Blists Hill to discover more about the heroes who lived during the Victorian era as well as lessons in the Victorian School House, lunchtime and afternoon sing-a-longs in the New Inn and rides in the horse-drawn bus between 1.30 and 3pm.

And at Enginuity, youngsters can decorate a frisbee flinger with a superhero logo then ,easure hand to eye co-ordination by challenging the Batak Wall. Try and hit as many of the illuminated targets as you can within 30 seconds

There’s also a chance to test how fast you can kick a football; the Enginuity team will measure its speed to find out who has superhero football skills.

And at Jackfield Tile Museum there will be superhero themed tile and ceramic clay workshops

Across the river at Coalport China Museum visitors can take part in hands-on superhero ceramic workshops.

On certain days, try sculpting a character from air-drying clay; throughout the half-term school holiday guests can also paint ceramic items such as a money box, fridge magnet or delicate china flower as well as paper plates.