Welcome to the Silk Museum
Open Wednesday to Saturday : 10.00 – 16.00
Also, Treacle Market Sunday : 11.30 - 16.00
The Silk Museum will be closed for the festive period from Wednesday 25th December until Wednesday 8th January.
Discover the stories of silk in our fascinating Silk Museum, alongside fashion, textiles, pattern and design. The 19th century Paradise Mill features working Jacquard silk handlooms in their original setting, and tours recreate the expertise and creative skills involved in silk production.
“Wonderful museum. Full of fascinating exhibits connected to the silk industry. It’s well worth booking the guided tour of the mill. Very interesting & the working machinery was fascinating.”
Your visit starts here
Dame Zandra Rhodes, DBE, visits Silk Museum to see the endangered craft of silk weaving
Iconic fashion designer, Dame Zandra Rhodes, DBE, visited the Silk Museum in Macclesfield to see the work that is happening to conserve the endangered craft of silk weaving and meet the graduates creating the first new designs to be woven there in decades.
The Silk Museum features marvellous industrial textile machinery and displays of textiles and fabric designs.
Find out how silk shaped Macclesfield over 300 years and its connection with Ancient Egypt. Get a taste of 19th- and 20th-century fashions with the costume collection and discover the crucial role that the silk industry played during the Second World War. There is also an innovative programme of creative exhibitions and events.
Relax with a cup of local freshly ground coffee in our cosy tea room and browse around our beautiful shop, brimming with a unique range of gifts.
Paradise Mill is the heart of the Silk Museum and is situated next door. The Mill is visited through a Guided Tour. Tickets are available to buy in the Museum, however we recommend pre-booking tickets for these popular tours on-line. Tours are held Wednesdays through to Saturdays, at 11.00am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
No need to pre-book a visit to the Silk Museum. Please just drop in, and we encourage you to support us with a donation.
Tickets for a tour of Paradise Mill may be bought on arrival at the Museum. We do recommend pre-booking to avoid disappointment.
We are a charity conserving this unique industrial heritage for today’s enjoyment and for future generations. Please support our work with a donation or by joining The Friends
What’s on
Get creative with our inspiring programme of exhibitions and events.
Explore our collection of marvellous industrial machinery.
Enjoy an inspiring programme of displays and creative events.
Don’t miss one of our unique guided walks around Macclesfield.
Workshops are run for all abilities and ages.
Many events are free to attend.
collections and exhibitions
Discover the history of silk weaving from handlooms to powerful industrial machinery.
Be inspired by our unrivalled archive of silk textile designs, preserved in original pattern books. Find out who influenced the town’s history through their creativity and ingenuity.