Silk Museum reopens next week

Macclesfield’s Silk Museum on Park Lane is going to throw open its doors again on Thursday 17^th September – and the staff can’t wait to see you again.

The Museum will be open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (10 am-4 pm – with last admission at 3 pm), for visitors who have pre-booked a free ticket online at macclesfieldmuseums.co.uk or from Art Tickets. 

Some changes have been made to ensure your visit is as safe as it can be. 

Visitors need to pre-book for hourly slots starting at 10 am – with each hour slot having capacity for up to six visitors. This means that there should be plenty of space to explore and enjoy the collections in the largest ground floor gallery – the Red Room.  

During closure staff have been busy developing new displays focused on the history of silk in Macclesfield. The story of the rise and fall of the industry that shaped our town is told through the work and experiences of the people who powered it: mill owners, mill workers and even silk designers who trained in the Silk Museum building (the former Macclesfield School of Art & Design) all feature in the new display.

The museum’s famous Ancient Egyptian collection will be on display and you can discover the lives of these fascinating people – through the artefacts and inscriptions they left behind – as you explore the oldest objects in our museums.

You’ll also learn of the connection between silk and Egypt through the lives of Marianne Brocklehurst and Mary Booth – two Victorian explorers who gave their collection of Ancient Egyptian artefacts to Macclesfield.

John Varney, Chair of the Silk Heritage Trust, said: “We’re very much looking forward to welcoming back visitors to the Silk Museum and sharing our new stories and displays in the Red Room – as well as our incredibly popular Ancient Egyptian artefacts. The safety of our visitors and staff is our top priority which is why we’ve decided to only allow small numbers in the museum every hour. However, we believe that this will give visitors a fantastic chance to really immerse themselves in our wonderful collection.”

The Museum Shop is open and stocked with many lovely new products – accepting both cash and debit/credit cards – with contactless transactions up to £45.Unfortunately, the café has to remain closed.

 Whilst admission is free Give What You Can donations are appreciated. Every £1 supports the museum’s work with children and families.

To book a ticket and for more information about your safety, go to macclesfieldmuseums.co.uk or Art Tickets. If you aren’t able to book online, call 01625 612045.