Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, Industrial heritage museum in The Gorge, England
The Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron is an industrial heritage museum in The Gorge housing domestic ironwork, industrial machinery, and historical artifacts. The collection traces how iron manufacturing methods changed and developed within this area over hundreds of years.
Abraham Darby I changed iron production in 1709 by smelting iron with coke instead of charcoal at the Old Furnace. This breakthrough made Coalbrookdale a center for iron manufacturing and helped drive the wider industrial development of the region.
The museum displays cast iron pieces that were shown at international exhibitions, including decorative fountains from the 1851 Great Exhibition in London. These works reveal how the area's metalworking became known across the world.
The museum is open on weekdays and weekends, with free parking available for certain pass holders. Visitors should plan enough time to explore the exhibits fully, as audio guides are provided to help you understand the collections.
The museum preserves the Old Furnace, a Grade I listed structure that won the Engineering Heritage Award in 2014. This surviving furnace stands as direct evidence of the technical innovation that sparked the industrial revolution in this valley.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
