Hay Inclined Plane

The Hay Inclined Plane stands in the Ironbridge Gorge, part of the Shropshire Canal network. It is a canal inclined plane built to raise and lower heavy loads between the canal and the River Severn. The inclined plane operated from 1793 until 1894, linking industrial areas with transport routes. It can be visited today as part of Blists Hill Victorian Town. The site is also a waypoint on the South Telford Heritage Trail. The inclined plane was designed by Henry Williams and James Loudon after a competition in 1788. It used twin railway tracks and wheeled cradles to move tub boats up and down. The system relied on a steam engine designed by Adam Heslop, a twin-cylinder beam engine patented in 1790. Four men operated the plane, completing each lift or descent in about four minutes. The remains of the brick boiler house and winding mechanism can still be seen at the top. Visitors to the Hay Inclined Plane find the restored tracks and cradles running down the incline. The site includes the winding drum and steam engine remains at the summit. The underwater sections of the rails show how boats were floated into position. The inclined plane offers views over the Ironbridge Gorge and its industrial heritage. The surrounding area connects to the South Telford Heritage Trail and Blists Hill Victorian Town.