The densely-wooded, mineral-rich Severn Gorge was the "birthplace of the Industrial Revolution". In 1709, Abraham Darby (1677-1717) was the first to use coke for smelting iron, replacing traditional charcoal. His experiments rapidly revolutionised the iron industry making the construction of buildings such as the Iron Bridge possible. A number of sites along the gorge now form an important industrial museum providing an insight into the industry (Museum of Iron) and life in the gorge (Blists Hill Open Air Museum, Colport China Museum).