Occupying an old warehouse on the River Severn, the Jackfield Tile Museum showcases a selection of ceramics. Admire the imposing redbrick façade of the 19th-century building that helped inspire the Industrial Revolution in the Ironbridge Gorge. The warehouse belonged to the Craven Dunnill & Co. Ltd. and today continues to generate tiles.
Make your way through the various exhibits and marvel at the collection of colorful tiles that skirt the walls. The displays take you through replicas of typical Victorian and Edwardian establishments, such as a pub, a church and an underground station.
Piece together intriguing tales told through panels and mosaics and browse the gallery devoted to the best of British tile creation. Bring your kids to make their own artistic panels in the workshops.
Learn the history of Britain’s tile industry from 1840 to 1960. The museum has a particular focus on encaustic tiles, whose colorful patterns are made from the clay material itself, rather than the glazing process later on. Consider the benefits of this kind of tile, as it keeps its coloring once the glazing begins to wear.
The exhibits reveal the history of tile production in Jackfield, where the tradition has been in practice since the 1500s. Learn about important industry figures, such as 19th-century English designer William De Morgan. Notice the medieval and Persian designs of his tiles in the collection.
There is a fee to enter the museum, with concessions for seniors and kids. The site opens daily from morning until late afternoon in summer, but is closed on Mondays from October until mid March. Guided tours of the factory take place Wednesday mornings.
The Jackfield Tile Museum fringes the southern bank of the River Severn in the Ironbridge Gorge. It is in the town of Jackfield, a 15-minute drive south from Telford. Buy a combination ticket that includes other Ironbridge Gorge Museums in the vicinity, such as the Coalport China Museum, the Darby Houses and the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron.
