A well-kept garden near a redbrick railway arcade harbors a 17th-century blast furnace in one of the pioneering villages of the Industrial Revolution.
Visit the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron to learn how the iron of this village impacted the world. Despite its focus on industrial history, the museum’s crumbling ramparts are complemented by modern designs. Its displays contain a range of artifacts and informative plaques that explain how iron has infiltrated so many aspects of our lives.
Examine the cooking utensils and art castings hanging on the walls of this fascinating museum. Appreciate the patterns of the artistic ironworks beside tools that played a part in our societal development. The impact of Coalbrookdale on worldwide construction was so great that the nearby Iron Bridge on the River Severn was a world first, when built in 1779.
Among the museum’s highlights are its 19th-century works made for exhibitions. Marvel at the Boy and Swan Fountain of the Great Exhibition in 1851 and see sculptor John Bell’s Deerhound Table from the Paris International Exhibition four years later.
Snap photos of the modern triangular edifice housing the precious remains of Abraham Darby’s Old Furnace. This blast furnace, which helped to make kettles, pots and other tools, contains an inscription dedicated to its inventor.
Providing a welcome respite from the metallic exhibits is the picturesque garden, composed of a manicured hedge and well-trimmed lawn. Read a book while sitting on a bench opposite the multiple arches of the redbrick railway bridge that runs parallel to the museum. A colorful floral display decorates the back of the garden.
Opening hours are daily from morning to afternoon, although the museum is closed on Mondays in winter. Purchase tickets, with discounts for children and seniors. Passport tickets incorporating nearby attractions are also available.
The Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron lies in the heart of its namesake village in the Ironbridge Gorge. It’s a 15-minute walk east from the Irongorge Camping area. Stroll leisurely through the serene hamlet to encounter other sights such as Dale End Park, the Darby Houses and the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity.
