Broseley Pipe Museum

3rd June 2023

Ironbridge and Broseley

Nine of us registered for the weekend trip to Ironbridge – the Master-Elect Elise, Renter Warden Henry (who organised the venture), Fourth Warden Jacqueline (and Simon), Court Assistants Fran Morrison and Graham Blashill (and Linda), Sharon and me – Friday to Sunday.
We met the museum’s curator, Kate Cadman, at The Broseley Pipe Museum on Saturday morning for a fascinating tour covering the rich history and craftsmanship of pipe making followed by a demonstration of clay pipe-making by our apprentice Oliver Meeson.
The museum is housed in a charming historic building which was once the site of the most prolific clay tobacco pipe makers in Britain, exporting worldwide, before being abandoned in the 1950s and today provides a comprehensive display of tobacco pipes throughout the ages. Our Company helped fund the establishment of the museum and continues to provide much needed support for this ancient heritage.
Henry maintains our link with the museum, and Jacqueline, as Honorary Archivist, has documented much detail on the Company’s involvement in resurrecting the building and establishing the museum.

I would encourage others to visit – Ironbridge is a gem of an area sporting ten museums many of which our group covered in addition to the Pipes.
Thank to Henry for organising the program – which included much food and bev!