Abraham Darby IIIs Desk

This desk with a bookcase above is known as a "Secretaire". The top drawer has a flap which folded down to form the writing surface and lots of small drawers and compartments to hold writing materials and papers.

The desk belonged to Abraham Darby III and he may even have used it when he was making plans to build the Iron Bridge.

Iron Bridge Fireplace

The Coalbrookdale Company’s most famous product appears twice on this cast iron fireplace; once on the back plate and once below the fire basket. It was cast by the Coalbrookdale Company and is marked "C Dale Co".

This type of grate is known as hob grate as it has a small hob on either side of the fire basket which could be used for keeping a pot or kettle warm.

Alfred and Rebecca Darby’s China

This Staffordshire Stoneware plate is part of a dinner service which was made for the marriage of Alfred Darby I to Rebecca Miller Christy in 1848. Each piece bears their entwined initials, A R and D.

Eagle Slayer Statuette

The bronze statue on the landing is "The Eagle Slayer", designed by John Bell and cast by the Coalbrookdale Company in 1849. There were two versions of this sculpture exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The largest was made from cast iron, stood 11 feet 6 inches high (3.5m), and sat under a cast iron dome complete with a slain eagle. Even at the time this was thought to be an example of particularly poor taste! The second version was a smaller, finely chased bronze statuette. It was this version which became a standard item in the Coalbrookdale catalogues of the 1870s. On the back of this statue it states: "A gift from Mrs. Abraham Darby to Frederick Monks 1898". From the date on the inscription this must have been Matilda Darby, the widow of Abraham Darby IV.