Nantwich Museum and Macclesfield Silk Museum set to reopen

After almost six months closure, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Nantwich Museum and Macclesfield’s Silk Museum will reopen to the public this week.

The Macclesfield’s Silk Museum, on Park Lane, will reopen on Thursday 17 September. It will open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-4pm (last admission 3pm) for visitors who have pre-booked a free ticket online.

Six visitors will be able to visit at a time, in hourly slots. The Silk Museum asks people to give what they can on admission, with all donations supporting their work with children and families. 

Both museums have received generous emergency funding to support the reopening and the development of its work from National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and Cheshire East Council.

Nantwich Museum will reopen on Friday 18 September and will also be open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10am–4.30pm for visitors who have pre-booked tickets. To do visit the museums website

Throughout the closures, staff worked from home to continue to bring the museums to residents through online means and created home-schooling content, that many parents found useful during the full lockdown situation.

The closures also gave staff the opportunity to undertake housekeeping tasks and develop new displays, ready to inspire visitors. 

The planning and preparation of the reopening of both venues has been in accordance with Covid-19 measures to give protection to visitors, staff and volunteers. The changes made will make visits as safe as they can be. 

Nantwich Museum visitors will have an opportunity to visit the temporary exhibition in the Millennium Gallery, ‘Personal Voices’ by the Breakaway Textile Group, which will remain in place until the end of the year.

Museum Manager, Kate Dobson said: “I am extremely grateful to all those volunteers, who have been only too keen to enable the museum to reopen as soon as possible despite what will inevitably be challenging conditions.”

Visitors must book their visit by telephoning the museum on 01270 627104, when they will also be advised of any specific requirements.

Macclesfield Silk Museum visitors will find that the famous Ancient Egyptian collection will be on display once again. Find out about the lives of these fascinating people through the artefacts and inscriptions they left behind as you explore the oldest objects in the museum. 

Learn about the connection between silk and Egypt through the lives of Marianne Brocklehurst and Mary Booth, the 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.”

To book a ticket and for more information, go to the Macclesfield Museum website  or if you aren’t able to book online, call 01625 612045.

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