The Ironmen Way - following in their footsteps by Richard Davies

I understand when the festival started, way back in 2005, an Ironmen Walk was one of the very first to be devised. The creator & walk-leader, John Parnell, a very keen Morris Dancer and part of a local set of dancers “The Ironmen” put together a route linking up a number of dances named after near-by villages. Throughout the walk he enthused about the background to various traditions & history of Morris Dancing in the area.

Walking & learning the route with John earlier this year Sally (co-leader) and myself have learnt a fascinating amount about the dancing heritage and we are hopeful John will start the walk off with an intro. Throughout the walk, we will still share the knowledge as best we can recall and just for the record we would just stress we will not be in costume or doing any demonstrations which John did during one walk outside of Jackfield Church.

Separately, as I walked, it struck me the route also provides great, contrasting examples of UK land-use thinking; the initial heavy industrialisation & mineral extraction in the Gorge with little consideration to the future, leading to post Second World War dereliction then 1980s gentrification.  Dawley & Horsehay (with associated enlarged road systems) reflect 1960s optimism of a New-Town Development culture; then westwards to the protective Green-Belt - although routing the pylons quite so close to Benthall Hall was a little thoughtless!

To me, Broseley is rather special having retained so many unspoilt buildings & much of the original street-plan as, I guess, it was insufficiently prosperous in the 1960s/1970s to encourage “redevelopment” which scarred so many other towns.

Whatever interests you, it is a fine walk in a great area which I hope all will enjoy. Unfortunately, Sally is unable to co-lead but myself and Lorraine look forward to meeting up with everyone on the day.

You can see what the Ironmen are currently up to here or visit their website here