Horsehay: Railway History and Nature

Horsehay brings together local industrial history and railways alongside a landscape with two lakes of distinct character. Horsehay and Simpsons Pools were designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2024. The Telford Steam Railway, historic workers’ cottages, circular walks and a section of the Telford T50 provide further specific themes to help you plan your trip.

Horsehay and Simpsons Pools

The Horsehay and Simpsons Pools area covers a total of 7 hectares. Horsehay Pool covers 3 hectares, while Simpsons Pool covers 4 hectares, making it one hectare larger. The landscapes also differ: Horsehay Pool is a large, mature lake surrounded by woodland and grassland. Simpsons Pool is a deep former quarry lake, bordered by broadleaf woodland that provides habitat for birds and small mammals.

The two descriptions emphasize different features: Horsehay Pool brings together the lake, woodland and grassland, while Simpsons Pool is defined by its former use as a quarry lake and the adjacent broadleaf woodland. Together, they form the named natural area that was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2024.

Industrial History and Railways

Horsehay grew up around Horsehay Ironworks, which Abraham Darby II had built between 1754 and 1757. Horsehay’s first blast furnace was in operation by 1755 at the latest as part of the Coalbrookdale Company. Old Row Cottages were built in the 1750s to house workers at Horsehay Ironworks. The early industry, blast furnace and workers’ cottages are therefore tangible aspects of the village’s history.

Horsehay Pool is also connected with technological development: it was created by building a dam across a nearby stream. The stream provided power via waterwheels and steam engines. This describes a connection between water and technology without attributing the stream to any particular facility.

Horsehay Pool lies next to the Telford Steam Railway at the former Horsehay railway station. The station was part of the Severn Junction Branch, a branch line of the Great Western Railway. The Telford Steam Railway focuses on its standard-gauge railway, which runs through the Grade II listed Heath Hill Tunnel. The steam railway at Horsehay opened to the public in 1984. The site also has three model railway exhibitions.

Another railway ride is the narrow-gauge steam tram “Thomas Telford,” which takes visitors around Horsehay Pool to the Old Loco Shed. The Railwayana Museum next to Horsehay Pool displays artefacts from local railways in 2026. Check seasonal dates before your trip. This offers different ways to explore railway history: standard-gauge railways, a historic railway line, a steam tram and model railways.

Walking and Golf

Circular walks of 2.3 and 3.75 miles start from Horsehay. The fourth stage of the Telford T50 is 9 miles long, making it longer than both circular walks, and runs from Wellington to Horsehay. Unlike the circular routes, this stage runs between two places. The distances and route types offer a practical way to compare different walking options.

The Horsehay Village Golf Club course is also described in precise terms: it has 18 holes, a par of 70, and a grassland, links-style character. From the white tees, it measures 5,974 yards. It was laid out in the mid-1990s on the site of a former open-cast mine. The site’s previous use adds another change in the landscape to Horsehay’s industrial history.

Discover more destinations: Coalbrookdale, Telford, Coalport, Rodington, Ironbridge, Admaston, Wrockwardine, Wellington.

For the broader travel overview: Telford And Wrekin.