The Sabbath Walks Trail Severn Gorge Countryside Trust Between 1782 and 1792, Quaker and The Trust was set up in 1991 to look after 260 Richard Reynolds levelled and widened existing pathways in these local woodlands. These hectares of land for the benefit of wildlife, local paths were inspired by visits to Enville Hall near people and visitors. The Trust is responsible for Bridgnorth and the garden follies over half of the land within the Gorge in . He created one of the UK’s first publicly World Heritage Site, managing an important The Sabbath accessible parks, almost 200 years before National and Country Parks. The walks featured a Doric landscape with Sites of Special Scientific Interest Temple, cast Rotunda and many arbor seats. (SSSI) and endangered species. Walks Trail

The Sabbath or Workmen’s Walks were mainly used on Sundays, a day of rest, for the workers to enjoy the The Trust also looks after 60 historic structures, views overlooking industrial and the traditional hay meadows and over 25km of panoramic views of the iconic . It is paths. The Trust is unusual in that it has an hard now to imagine what a hellish scene would have open access policy on all 260 hectares of land met your view had you walked these routes during the working week with constant loud hammering, it manages. The Trust employs up to 25 local belching smoke, fumes and flames. The work was dirty contractors to undertake various works. The and physically demanding and the ale houses would Trust also has a strong volunteer programme have been a choice for many on a Sunday. carrying out a wide variety of tasks, contributing His lifelong friendship with the Goldneys of Bristol, thousands of work hours each year. who managed Clifton estate and gardens is important. Trees and plants including false Acacia, fly honeysuckle Severn Gorge Countryside Trust and laburnum were provided in 1784 for Hannah’s The Trust’s aim is to promote, protect and Cottage garden in the middle of the woods. This part of conserve the living landscape of the Lincoln Hill and Dale Coppice was formally laid out as a beautiful woodland walk at a time when most of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site rest of the gorge woodland had been felled for furnace fuel. The false Acacia trees and fly honeysuckle can Find us at: still be seen as can a large Atlas cedar tree. Reynolds was also familiar with the poet William Shenstone’s Darby Road, Coalbrookdale,TF8 7EP Parking: Dale End Park, Coalbrookdale garden, ‘The Leasowes’ at Halesowen at which he was 01952 433880 Access: Mainly woodland paths a frequent visitor, and Shenstone was said to have www.severngorge.org.uk coined the phrase ‘landscape gardening’. How long: 3km, 1½ hour REG CHARITY NO. 1004508 How easy: Some hills, The area around the Rotunda would have been planted steps, kissing gates with small trees around 1793. This would have given far reaching views across Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge Pushchair friendly: No and the Wrekin. Toilets: Museum of the Gorge Car Park On the route there are seats made by local community Artwork by MA Creative. groups in 2003, and hand-painted panels to interpret Cover illustration: The Rotunda by Lynne Morgan Crossing roads: the past. Back cover: © Mike Ashton Beware of traffic Continue on the path Start at Dale End Car Park Key to map ☛ until it forks, take the right fork From Dale End car park, turn right towards Walk Route ☛ Dale following red way markers. Ironbridge . Other paths Coppice Rough Park Continue on past Castle Green ☛ Opposite the Teddy Bear Shop and Site Entrances cemetery, at the next fork bear Museum take the steep hill up Paradise. After 100m Car Park right to Church Road. Carefully bear right to Upper Paradise, carry on straight ahead Public House cross the road following past some houses on your right entering Lincoln Hill Public Toilet fingerpost for The Rotunda View, woodland through a V-stile. Bench Holy Trinity enter Lincoln Hill woodland Church C Steps h u through a kissing gate. 1 400 million years ago this area was a coral reef r c

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the sea creatures forms the limestone. d 5 The sculpture At the second finger post you come to, carry straight ☛ on the left is a on. At the third fingerpost turn right uphill (signed Coalbrookdale celebration of the Rotunda) to a T-junction. life of Michael ☛ Turn left (signed Church Road) along to a kissing Pooley, author gate and cross Church Road into Dale Coppice of local walking woodland. d guides and a o The Mike Pooley sculpture R researcher of the 2 Here since the 13th Century, this woodland was le a SHORT D e Sabbath Walks. part of a formal landscape laid out by Reynolds is CUT d ra in the 1790s as part of the Sabbath Walks a P ☛ Continue along the path and at the wooden seat, At a junction next to a bench, bear left and take a breather to enjoy views across to Coalbrookdale. ☛ l Lincoln il continue past a sculpture and down a set of steps. H Hill ln 6 The Alcove Seat behind where you are sitting co n ☛ At the fingerpost (signed Rough Park) follow B4380 Li was a brick structure that was built during the red arrows up the steps to the interpretation The Rotunda construction of the Sabbath Walks. panels of Hannah’s Cottage and Garden. ☛ Continue along the path to the Rotunda to enjoy 3 False Acacia trees, planted in 1782, START HERE the views of the Iron Bridge in the valley below. burst into leaf in mid-May. Dale End Car Park Museum of 7 Lincoln Hill ridge was created during the ☛ Follow the red arrows round to the right to River Sever the Gorge mining and quarrying of limestone that the interpretation panel of the Doric Temple, built n stopped in 1800. by Hannah’s father, Richard Reynolds. ☛ Take your time to descend the steps. At the bottom ☛ Follow the path ahead of the steps, turn right. through a kissing gate onto ☛ Take the first left Rough Park. Turn right keeping down some more steps. the woodland on your right. Then at the bottom 4 Rough Park managed by of the steps turn right & Wrekin Council signed to Ironbridge. is now an open meadow; Follow the tarmac road it was once mined for to the left, retracing coal and clay for local the route back to the Woodland walk seat industries. View from The Rotunda Merrythought Teddy Sculptured bench Bear Shop and Museum.