Lauren Stephenson will explore the lives of the individuals who worked in the industries of the Gorge through the 19th century. She will delve into the fascinating histories of the iron and ceramic industries as well as the activities which supported them, such as mining and the river trade. This talk will give an insight into the captivating stories told by Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust today, the rich lives which were led in the Ironbridge Gorge through the 19th century, and the important impacts that this area has had on the world today.
The events which took place in the Ironbridge Gorge provided a unique and unrivalled contribution to the birth of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century; the impact of which is still felt across the world. The surviving built and natural environment, including the world famous Iron Bridge of 1779, remind us of the area’s unique contribution to the history and development of industrialised society. Included within this are the museums, monuments and artefacts managed by the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust which aim to bring this story to life for visitors to experience today.
Lauren Stephenson is the Curatorial Officer at Blists Hill Victorian Town, which is part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust. She is responsible for the care, research and interpretation of the collections at Blists Hill Victorian Town, and as such has a particular interest in the social history of the Ironbridge Gorge in the 19th century.
