Plans lodged to revamp Ironbridge coracle shed
A scheme to refurbish Ironbridge's landmark coracle shed has taken a step forward after a planning application was lodged to turn it into a visitor attraction.
The Ironbridge Coracle Trust wants to preserve the tradition of coracle making and ensure that the importance of the coracle shed in the history of Ironbridge isn’t lost.
The trust has submitted a planning application to Telford & Wrekin Council to carry out work to the shed, which will involve creating peep holes which will allow visitors to view scenes describing the life and work of a coracle maker.
The plans state: "The proposal is to stabilise one of the last remaining coracle sheds in England and establish it as a visitor attraction as part of a wider Heritage Lottery Funded project.
"The shed will not be able to accommodate visitors internally but it is proposed that there will be ‘virtual access’ using the existing window on the north elevation and through creating six x 75mm peep holes into the shed to enable visitors to see active interpretation scenes within.
"This will therefore require a change of use from B1/B8 to D1 museum.
"The objectives of any treatment will be to stabilise the structure as far as is practicable commensurate with preserving the current aesthetics.
"Stabilisation works proposed by the lead design team are through the insertion of new timber supports on small localised pads."
The work would also include repairing windows, the roof and steps, replacing guttering and installing a hand rail.
There would also be a new hand painted sign on the door.
Internally, some floorboards will be replaced and electricity installed.
The coracle shed dates from the 1920s and was owned by the Rogers family until the death of Eustace Rogers in 2003.
It was used by Eustace, his father, and grandfather before him, for building Ironbridge coracles.
In 2014, the Ironbridge Coracle Trust purchased the shed, with a grant from Telford & Wrekin Council, to help ensure its repair and conservation in situ and to tell the story of the Ironbridge coracle and coracle men.
The collection of items from the shed was purchased by the trust in 2015 and will be displayed in a proposed new Coracle Centre at the Green Wood Centre, Coalbrookdale.
The project is supported by Heritage Lottery Funding, Arts Council/Visit England Funding and Telford50 Funding.
The proposed development of the coracle shed forms part of the trust’s wider project to develop a ‘coracle trail’ between the shed and the proposed Coracle Centre.
The walking trail would highlight points of interest relevant to the river life and coracle heritage of Ironbridge.
A decision on the proposals is expected to be made by Telford & Wrekin Council in the upcoming months.
