Text Box: The Iron Bridge, Museum of Iron, Museum of the River, Jackfield Tile Museum, Coalport China Museum, Blists Hill Museum The Industrial Revolution started in the Ironbridge Gorge. Here, in 1709 Abraham Darby pioneered the use of inexpensive coke, rather than charcoal, to smelt iron ore. The Museum of Iron is one six industrial historical sites in the Gorge. Click on a picture to see a larger view.