Day 5 Methodism and the Industrial Revolution

A bright sunny morning, we set off for Coalbrookdale part of the Ironbridge group of museums and the heart of the Industrial Revolution, that had it early beginnings in Bristol and in which both the Quakers and early Methodists played an important part.

Anne looking at the "Iron Bridge"

First stop first is Coalbrookdale home of Quaker Abraham Darby who moved from Bristol to start an Iron foundry and revolutionised the way that iron was smelted, allowing iron to be used in much greater quanities.  His grandson Abraham Derby III  constructed the first arched cast iron bridge in the world.

We visit his first smelting works .....

John Wesley often visited Coalbrookdale and in March 1779 admired the new iron bridge before it was fitted into position in the summer, it opened on New Years Day 1781.

Whilst Darby was the main employer locally and conducted business in a manner fitting his Quaker beliefs, the area was prominently Methodist. In 1885 The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel (now closed for worship) was built to commemorate the centenary of the death of John Fletcher, a famous evangelical Vicar of Madeley and one of Methodism's first great theologians, who John Wesley had trained to take over from him, this never happened as Fletcher died before Wesley in 1785. However Fletcher had founded a Methodist Society of Dawley Bank in 1765. This group met in a house near Dawley Bank and was raised for worship in 1773. At that time all non-conformist meetings had to be registered. The group thrived and records from 1799 show that the meeting was well attended and it was claimed that a fifth of the parish followed the Methodists.

A short walk took us to Dale House where the local Quakers still meet in the front room and behind is the Quakers graveyard. Both Quakers and Methodists emphasised a disciplined life style coupled with a passion for Social Justice. In 1770 one of the Iron Masters, Richard Reynolds, a Quaker laid out part of his land, near the Methodist Chapel two "Sabbath walks" for the benefit of his workers and their families to use on Sundays - the only day off they had in the week! This was one of the earliest formal "public parks" 200 years before council owned parks came into being.

Just past the Iron Bridge en-route to Blists' Hill is Lloyd's Coppice which has been a managed wood since the 1600. Today it also contains the remains and ruins of Madeley Wood Hall and was home to John Anstice (1847) owner of the Madeley Wood Company. The company was famous for abolishing child labour in the area.

The sun shone this afternoon so we drove to the Victorian Village at Blists' Hill. We agreed the last time we visited was 9 years or so ago when Stephen was doing his GCSE's. Several new buildings have been constructed since then, including a new entrance and a Incline lift.

 Enjoy the pictures!

"I know they said I was getting a bus, but this is beyond  my renovations skills!"

Home of the Beacon Duck?

Forget putting in  Loo's at Luckington Chapel, what you  need is a bell.. That will get the village talking!!!