Visitors to Coalport between Saturday 24 May and Sunday 1 June will be able to model their favourite spring blooms in clay, or emulate the famous Coalport flower painters, by decorating a mug or trinket box with florals in colourful enamels.
This year Coalport China Museum will be highlighting the importance and symbolism of flowers for the porcelain painters of Coalport and for the people who bought and used the china. A new Botanical Trail through the galleries will be launched at May half-term where families will be able to learn more about a wide range of plants from cottage garden varieties to exotic blooms. In the year of the Beijing Olympics the meaning of flowers in Chinese decoration and custom can also be discovered by following the trail through the museum.
Across the Gorge at the restored Jackfield Tile Museum visitors can join tile decoration workshops (Tuesday 27 - Friday 30 May) to embellish 6 x 6 inch tiles with their own choice of design and colour using the Victorian tube lining technique. Fired tiles cost £7 each plus museum admission and can be sent home later for a small extra charge to cover postage and packing.
A Passport to all ten of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums valid for twelve months and multiple return visits, costs £14.95 per adult, £12.95 for the 60 plus, £9.95 for students and children and £48 for a family of two adults and three children; under 5s free.
The museums are open seven days a week from 10am until 5pm; activities and workshops vary day-to-day and some carry an extra charge in addition to the museum admission fee, for further information contact the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on Tel: 01952 884 391 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6).
