Collector gives life's work to Ironbridge's Jackfield Tile Museum

Mr Scott, 80, from London, began collecting in the 1960s and over the years has managed to gather around 1,500 tiles.

The first tile Mr Scott brought in 1960 cost him just five shillings at the time, which is about 25 pence today, he says.

"I had a friend that collected 18th Century Dutch tiles and I always thought they were beautiful, so I decided to start collecting English tiles," he said.

"I was not married and I didn't have children so I had no expenses meaning I could afford to continue buying tiles, so I have carried on collecting tiles ever since," he said

"I picked Jackfield Museum because it is a very good tile museum and also there are thousands and thousands of little tile businesses setting up here, so it's not just the Craven Dunnill factory, plus Shropshire is the heart of the industrial revolution.

"And I really want young people to be interested in tiles because of this gallery and to maybe even make some themselves as it is really easy to do. You just buy some tiles and off you go."

Before moving all the tiles to the museum, Mr Scott, kept them on the walls of his home or shelves, which are similar to the ones used in the gallery.

But this is the first time they have been available for the public to view.

Anna Brennand, chief executive of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, said: "It means a lot to us that John picked our museum to display the tiles, and there are just so many of them.

"It has taken about four years in total to get to this stage, and we just want as many people to come and see it as possible, and John wants this museum to be the best tile museum in the world, and his donation will help us achieve that."

Unfortunately not all the tiles are on display due to there being so many, but museum bosses plan to bring them out at a later date to keep the gallery fresh.

Some of the tiles featured in the John Scott gallery were designed by prestigious names, including Pugin, Dresser, Morris, Williams De Morgan and Bawden.

Dr Matt Thompson, senior curator at the museum, said: "One of the really good things about this donation is that it is permanent.

"We have these beautiful historic tiles, and we are so privileged that John donated his collection to us."

The gallery is now open to the public.