The Life of Iron
The story of iron is central to the history of the Ironbridge Gorge. Find out why with this special itinerary.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN...
The story of iron, a major factor in the historical significance of the Ironbridge Gorge, begins at the Old Furnace.
See where Abraham Darby I perfected the iron smelting technique that would change the world and act as a catalyst for the Industrial Revolution by making it easier and more cost effective to mass-produce iron products.
IRON IS EVERYWHERE
At the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron learn more about the Darby family and the geology of the Gorge.
See functional iron objects that made people's lives easier and admire stunning examples of decorative ironwork.
Download or pick up at the Museum of Iron a copy of the Coalbrookdale Trail, which highlights several other iron-related features around Coalbrookdale.
FROM STARS TO CELLS: THE LIFE OF IRON
Go back even further in the history of iron in our exhibition for From Stars to Cells: The Life of Iron. This display in Enginuity is an abridged version of our 2024 temporary exhibition exploring the origins of iron in space.
HOW THE IRONMASTERS LIVED
Visit the Darby Houses to explore the homes where multiple generations of the Darby family, local ironmasters, lived. See some of their heirlooms in the rooms where they would have been used.
Then get a flavour of what life would have been like for workers by taking a walk to nearby Carpenter's Row. Compare the outside of this former workers' housing to the Darby Houses you have already seen.
THE WORLD'S FIRST IRON BRIDGE
A visit to the Ironbridge Gorge wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Iron Bridge.
In the Tollhouse learn how and why the bridge was built.
In the nearby Museum of the Gorge, a former warehouse, iron goods produced in the Gorge were stored before being shipped out on the River Severn.
working with iron
At Blists Hill Victorian Town visit the blacksmiths and foundry to get a flavour of how iron objects were made using traditional methods.
To try it yourself, have a go at one of our Blacksmith Experience Days.
You can also see the remains of 19th century blast furnaces and learn about the eventual decline of the iron industry in Shropshire.
THE REMAINS OF AN ORIGINAL FURNACE
Further along the Gorge, stop off at the remains of the Bedlam Furnace, just one of the furnaces built during the massive expansion of the iron industry in the mid 18th century. It was among the first in the country to be built specifically for coke smelting.
It is now one of the monuments in the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust's guardianship and free to visit.
PLAN your visit
To plan your visit fully visit the Planning your trip to Ironbridge page on our website for information about opening dates and times, getting to the Ironbridge Gorge, access information and more.
All the museums on this itinerary are included in our PASS and PASS PLUS, which allow you to visit the museums as many times as you like during a year.
Once you've finished the iron itinerary, you might like to try one of our other itineraries, including itineraries for history and heritage lovers, arts and crafts fans and families.