The Pevsner volume of the 'Buildings of England' for Shrophsire is so crowded in this location that the county map needs an inset.
The Ironbridge Gorge not only has the demonstration bridge from 1779 but 9 other museums that explain the importance of this unusual geological accident of the Ice Age and all that happened after the middle ages. Wood, water, iron ore, limestone, clay, coal, tar and a navigable river made this place the cradle of modern industry. Heavy industry lost out to better connected places in due course, but the railways came and china and tiles were later industries the sent goods all over the world. A passport to the Museums in the Gorge gives unlimited visits in the year of validity to all 10 sites in the consortium and after that year is up, a one-off visit to any you haven't yet seen. http://www.shropshiretourism.info/ironbridge/
Wenlock Edge and the Clee Hills, the Long Mynd are geographical features within the Shropshire Hills AONB well worth exploring and the Wrekin is a major feature within walking distance.
The following links will give you Acrobat (pdf) files of information to help you get there and plan your stay. They are printed in a folder at the cottage with additional leaflets from visitor attractions and reference books.
For cycling enthusiasts National Route 45 passes the door and linked routes in the area use former railway and tramway lines to climb out of the gorge. The Severn Way follows the River and the Shropshire Way passes very near the cottage. http://www.sustrans.org.uk/?county=1091092214668
10 miles south is the northern end of the Severn Valley Railway. http://www.svr.co.uk/