Ironbridge Gorge Celebrates 300th Anniversary Milestone

Three hundred years ago, in 1709, Abraham Darby successfully smelted iron with coke at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire. His innovation enabled mass production of iron and was one of the key discoveries that set the Industrial Revolution in motion.

The achievement led to the development of a number of small scale industries in the area now contained in the Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout the year, the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust, which protects and interprets the site, has scheduled a number of special events and exhibitions to mark the 300th anniversary of Darby's innovation.

Highlights include:

• Coalbrookdale 300 - a free exhibition of artistic responses to the industrial revolution, including work from the trust's own Sir Arthur Elton Collection as well as on loan from various museums. The exhibition at the Coalbrookdale Gallery, on Dale Road, runs from Easter until January 2010.
• An exhibition of new archaeological finds uncovered around The Old Furnace, used by Abraham Darby
• A programme of cast and wrought ironworking demonstrations at Blists Hill Victorian Town
• Tours, lectures and opportunities for visitors to try working with hot metal

The Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust runs ten museums on either side of the Severn Valley, reflecting the history of the Gorge, its people, their lifestyles and their work from the beginning of the industrial development in the early 1700s through to Victorian times.

Find out more about Ironbridge Gorge and other top UK family attractions.

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