Museum of the Gorge
Gothic Revival warehouse by the River Severn with a large diorama of the Ironbridge Gorge at its industrial peak; closed at present, reopening planned.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Severn Warehouse was built around 1840 for the Coalbrookdale Company to a design by Samuel Cookson. It is a Grade II* listed building, and its Gothic Revival style is unusual for a warehouse. It stands on the Wharfage just west of Ironbridge, beside the River Severn, and is flooded most years; a painted line inside marks the worst flood.
The building now houses the Museum of the Gorge, which gives an overview of the Ironbridge Gorge sites through films and interactive displays. Few of its exhibits relate to the building itself. Instead it shows examples of the ironwares that the Coalbrookdale Company cast and shipped through the warehouse. Its centrepiece is a diorama about 12 metres long of the Gorge at the height of its industrial activity, showing King George III's visit to the Iron Bridge in 1796 together with features such as the Hay Inclined Plane and the Coalport china works. The diorama is a useful starting point for planning a visit to the wider Gorge.
The museum was run by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust until March 2026, when the National Trust took over ten of the Gorge museums. The National Trust has said that some of the sites are being reopened in phases during 2026, and the Museum of the Gorge was not among the first sites to reopen.
Highlights
- Diorama of the Ironbridge Gorge at its industrial peak, about 12 metres long
- Films and interactive displays introducing the Gorge sites
- Examples of ironware cast by the Coalbrookdale Company
- Grade II* listed Gothic Revival warehouse beside the Severn
- Painted flood line marking the worst flood
Permanent exhibition
- Diorama of the Ironbridge Gorge – A large diorama of the Gorge at its industrial peak, showing the visit of King George III to the Iron Bridge in 1796, the Hay Inclined Plane and the Coalport china works.
- Operated by
- National Trust
Admission & discounts
The museum is closed at present and no reopening date has been published.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The National Trust says assistance dogs are welcome across all of its Ironbridge Gorge sites. No access details for this museum are published at present; visitors can ask the Ironbridge Gorge team.
Kids & families
The museum is closed at present and no reopening date has been published.
Getting there & parking
The museum is closed at present and no reopening date has been published.
Amenities & dining
The museum is closed at present and no reopening date has been published.
Events & venue rental
The museum is closed at present and no reopening date has been published.
