Museum of the Gorge

This brick warehouse is one of the prestigious museums in the Ironbridge World Heritage site. It was built in 1840 by the Coalbrookdale company to store iron products ready for shipment down the River Severn. The naturally navigable river was a vital trade route, connecting the Shropshire coalfield to the Atlantic port of Bristol and the national canal system. Iron goods were carried from the ironworks to the warehouse on horse-operated tramroads. These ‘plateways’, with L-shaped tram-plates, came into the warehouse and out the other side to the river boats; lines can be seen in the brick floors. The warehouse was stylishly designed by the architect Samuel Cookson as a public showpiece for the iron company in the Gothic Revival style. The museum is increasingly affected by floods and a scale model of the Severn Gorge has been removed for safekeeping. Following conservation in 2024, the displays are made to cope with the river coming into the building. They introduce the history of the area and the warehouse.