The Museum of Iron is adjacent to the original furnace used by Abraham Darby when he first smelted iron ore with coke to produce cheap and plentiful cast iron. The iron produced was then used in the manufacture of cooking pots, rails, wheels and of course the worlds first iron bridge.The pioneering experiments undertaken by generations of the Darby family opened the way for further key developments which made the Gorge the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The Museum of Iron tells the story of iron smelting up to the Great Exhibition of 1851 where the Coalbrookdale company showed off its finest work. Today the museum houses a collection of particularly fine art casting as a legacy to the great skill and commitment of the Coalbrookdale Company.
The museum has a coffee shop serving tea, coffee, sandwiches and snacks.