Working in partnership with the PCC, the community and the council, the Broseley Heritage Project team has developed an ambitious plan to create a heritage centre in Broseley’s historic All Saints’ Church. 

The plan is coming to life with the launch of an appeal to raise funds for the initial stage of the project. The final cost is expected to be in the region of £500,000, with the majority coming from grant funding including the National Lottery Heritage fund. However we need £19,000 to work with the Architects and  Designers to build the stage 1 application for lottery funding.

The centre will be the focus for celebrating and sharing the rich industrial and social history of the town and its people, from the squatters who carved the unique ‘Jitties’, to the great innovators whose achievements helped to shape the Industrial Revolution and made the Ironbridge Gorge so significant a place in world history. 

The church is itself of historical importance and interest, not least as it is home to a spectacular stained glass window by Charles Kempe, one the country’s most renowned pre-Raphaelite designers. Sadly that feature is hidden today and the heritage centre will enable this to be revealed in all its glory. Kempe’s work adorns some of the UK’s most beautiful houses and cathedrals. Adrian Barlow is a trustee of the Kempe Trust and is particularly keen to reveal what may be Kempe’s last window and so could be “of considerable, and possibly unique, importance”. 

Over the past few months, a small team of people, representing both the church and town communities, has been looking at what is possible and developing the project. Gillian Pope of the Broseley Local History Society, says, “We are keen to illuminate aspects of the town’s industrial history, putting it in a social and national context, in a way that can get people excited and encourage further exploration. We have a large selection of artefacts and memorabilia relating to Broseley and have been looking for a way to display and promote the richness of the town’s past as well as provide links to other heritage attractions in the area.”

Rector of All Saints Church, the Reverend Sue Beverly, adds, “The church is the ideal venue for the heritage centre. It is the largest building in the town and we are delighted at the prospect of developing it to provide a home for this important community and tourism project. Our goal is to give local residents and tourists an exciting, illuminating and memorable experience.”

The group has appointed architects Donald Insall Associates and specialist visitor experience design consultancy Imagemakers to design the centre.