Volunteers needed to bring history to life at historic Darby houses

Bosses at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums are on the lookout for volunteers to help out at the two historic Darby houses, and will be holding an open day on March 13 to highlight the opportunities available.

Volunteers are needed at Rosehill House and Dale House, which are the former Coalbrookdale homes of several Quaker Ironmasters, including members of the famous Darby family.

At the open day, anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to come along and find out more at Rosehill House between 11am and 2pm.

Visitors can meet staff, the curator and some of the volunteers who will be available to answer questions and give a personalised tour.

Spokeswoman Lucy Andrews said: "It's a great chance to meet lots of wonderful people and be happy in the knowledge that you are passing on a story otherwise untold."

Rosehill House has been restored to show it as it was around 1850 and the house contains many possessions of the Darby family including furniture, pictures, silver, china, books and small personal objects.

These all help to show visitors the way of life of the Quaker family and others connected with them.

Dale House has been restored as a Quaker Ironmaster's residence of about 1780.

Both Rosehill and Dale House already have a team of volunteers who greet visitors, give them information and tell the story of the houses and the people who lived there. Volunteers can help out from one day a month to as often as they like.

For more information about all volunteering opportunities at The Ironbridge Gorge Museums call (01952) 601044.