The Old Coracle Shed

The Last Coracle Maker’s Shed in England

Built over 100 years ago the old shed is a hidden treasure in the centre of the World Heritage site, right next to the world-famous Iron Bridge. It has had many uses over the years including coracle making. Empty for many years it has now been restored as a museum (but not one you can go in!) to help conserve the history of coracle making in the Gorge

Click here to see the shed in 3D and learn a bit about its amazing story in the heart of Ironbridge. These images were created before the shed was restored.

Take A Look

Peep through the window and glimpse into the lives of the coracle men of past.

A little bit of background to the shed…

The coracle men called it their old curiosity shop! The old wooden shed was full of coracle making tools, traps, fishing nets and many stories.

The shed also contained many strange animated characters which the coracle men would fly across the river! Just for fun!

Eusty Rogers, the last of generations of coracle men often built coracles in the garden of his family house near the shed. Discover more about the Coracle Men here.

Phyllis Blakemore, a local author, gives a vivid description of the shed and its contents in 1984:

Eusty invited me to see his workshop, built precariously on the river bank.

It was a fascinating jumble of tools some of which were in every day use, together with relics of the past. The walls, floor and bench were crowded with artefacts. Eusty pointed out old paddles, (called spades by the coracle men) and showed me ancient walking sticks carved with bird and animal heads. One corner of the workshop was crammed with fishing rods, nets and waders. In another I saw scythes, rakes, axes, and chains. The floor was strewn with wicker baskets, rabbit nets, mole and rat traps. Over it all was a pleasant smell of tar, oil, rope and freshly sawn wood.

Phyllis Blakemore