Route 13 Much Wenlock Benthall Edge and the power station from Jackfield Bridge to Benthall Edge The hidden tunnels and tiles Ironbridge Discover Shropshire of Benthall Hall Walking the Shropshire Way from If you visited Benthall Hall you may Much Wenlock to Ironbridge you’ll Worthy of a detour, this fine have already stumbled across the meander the magical woodlands Elizabethan country house is managed work of Thomas Farnolls Pritchard. This of Benthall Edge to skirt invisible by the National Trust. The house is respected interior designer designed cooling towers and finish at said to have secret tunnels under its its fossil-rich marble fireplaces. Pritchard’s Iron Bridge. lawns. Beneath its wooden floors hide However, he is more famous for the beautiful tiles, laid by the Jackfield tile work that stands proudly at the end of Benthall Edge masters, George and Arthur Maws. this walk. Pritchard’s designs were cast These days Benthall Edge is so crammed Brother George is also thought to have at Coalbrookdale, stretching the skill of with wildlife you can hear the trees creak planted the crocuses that light up the iron master Abraham Darby II. Such is in protest. At any moment the wood’s gardens in spring. the innovation contained in this work, stitches threaten to burst, spilling out all it’s said that it could not be built today. over the landscape. The careful fields hem Ironbridge Power Station them in but nothing can stop the birdcalls It is ironic that the clay-red cooling ...and railways? and insect noises from leaking out. towers of this landmark, so obvious You started along the line of William There are many criss-crossing paths. Most from many of Shropshire’s hills, are Penny Brookes’ railway. Not content are traces of the wood’s once industrial thought to be well hidden. This with re-birthing the Olympic harness. Limestone, coal and clay were monster chews its way through 1.2 movement, he also brought steam blasted, hewn, scooped and dragged million tonnes of coal and 20,000 to Much Wenlock. You finish along from here to feed the ravenous beast of tonnes of oil a year to power our a different line. Once, the mighty industry birthed in the Gorge. kettles. It was shortlisted for a engines of Severn Valley Railway Benthall Edge is a Site of Special Scientific conservation award, because it was powered through here to Shrewsbury. Interest, one of the few places anywhere designed to blend into the valley! to boast Wild Service and Large-leafed Lime trees. Along the wooded slopes The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas of Benthall Edge Designed by MA Creative • www.macreative.co.uk • Writing by No Nonsense-Interpretation Ltd View from Benthall Edge towards Wyke and Much Wenlock Discover Shropshire Route 13 Coalbrookdale 200m 150m Buildwas 100m Buildwas Abbey 50m Kilometres1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 Miles 142 5 6 DISMANTLED RAILWAY Ironbridge 0 KILOMETRES 1 2 Shropshire Way Footpaths Bridleways 1 0 MILES /2 1 Lloyds Coppice Tick Wood Iron Bridge Place of Worship BENTHALL EDGE Visitor Information Centre WOOD Café Caravan/Camping Site Spratts Public House Museum Coppice Toilets Car Parking Building of Historical Interest English Heritage Farley Benthall Hall Castle National Trust Coppice CHERRY TREE HILL Gardens Forestry Commission Broseley E BenthallID DS Walking routes Youth Hostel OO W B4373 Wilderhope Church Wyke B4375 Manor Ragleth Hill Stretton For a more detailed map directions Acton Scott Farley 1000 ft WENLOCK EDGE Dale and information visit: Coppice C Coalbrookdale H 500 ft U www.shropshirewalking.co.uk R C H Harley Homer R O A D DIFFICULTY: often uneven and undulating A4169 D A O JACK MYTTON R woodland paths and stony tracks N IO T Green Wood Centre A DISMANTLED WAY T B4380 S D A458 A OAD R B4380 O E CH L E y RAILWAY R IS E L E D B I B L A Lincoln H U A R I A Wa D L D P DW Hill A AS R LL ge O OAD I d R H i r Y LN E MUCH WORLD Rotunda O b L n Kenley C o E HERITAGE IN Ir 8 kilometre section Hotel L D AREA H A Rowing Club O D M G Power Station E I V E R S E V E BO WENLOCK Wenlock Priory R R N WER T IRONBRIDGE HE W HA RF Benthall Edge AG Wood E BLAKEWAY Bower Yard WATE Bedlam Furnaces Iron Bridge RLOO COPPICE B4376 STREET Jackeld Bridge LAD Y WOOD A458 WORLD HERITAGE Jackeld AREA National Trust B4378 B4371 Workhouse Car Park Coppice WENLOCK EDGE You are not permitted to copy, sub-licence, distribute or sell any of this data to third parties in any form. © Crown copyright and database rights 2011 Ordnance Survey 100049049 Major’s Leap Lea Quarry.