'This decision has not been taken lightly' - Beloved Shropshire museum to stay shut throughout 2025 after 'difficult year'
A popular museum in the Ironbridge Gorge will not be opening to the public this year as the trust that runs it tries to recover from a 'difficult' 2024.
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Broseley Pipeworks ceased operating as one of the UK’s last producers of clay tobacco pipes in the late 1950s.
Following a grand renovation of the Grade II listed buildings in the 1990s, it was refitted with almost all of its original fixtures and fittings and is now the only pipeworks in the country complete with its original equipment.
While the last workers left the factory in the 1950s, the art of pipe-making has been kept alive by a team of volunteers since the museum opened in 1996.
But now, after what was described as a "difficult" year for the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (IGMT), the decision has been made not to reopen at all during 2025.
The IGMT's interim chief executive officer Karen Davies said the decision "has not been taken lightly" and was made in response to the "challenging financial situation" facing the charity.
She said: “We understand the disappointment of people that Broseley Pipeworks will not open in 2025. We also completely appreciate the importance of the pipeworks to the town and to many interested parties beyond Shropshire.
“The decision not to open Broseley Pipeworks has not been taken lightly, and is in response to the challenging financial situation that the trust, an independent charity, finds itself in.
“2024 was a difficult year for the trust. Along with many other museums and visitor attractions we experienced lower than anticipated visitor numbers, and as approximately 60 per cent of our income comes from ticket sales, any fall in visitors has a dramatic impact.
"In addition, as we move into 2025, we continue to be affected by the impact of the cost of living crisis and significant cost increases across all areas of the organisation."
Ms Davies moved to reassure residents that the fact the museum would not be opening would not put the buildings or collections at risk, and said they would continue to be cared for by the trust.
"Nor does it mean that the Pipeworks are closed ‘indefinitely’," she added.
“Whilst in the short term we cannot change our decision, we are considering various options to enable the pipeworks to open in 2026. If anything changes during 2025 or if there is any further information to relay, we will update interested parties.
“In the meantime we appreciate the ongoing support of our visitors, volunteers, friends and local communities to help us carry out our year-round heritage conservation and education work.”
