Museum of Making – the valley that changed the world
Derby Silk Mill – widely regarded as the site of the world’s first modern factory – has been reborn as the new Museum of Making, supported by investment from Arts Council England.
Part of Derby Museums, the new Museum of Making opened its doors to visitors for the first time on 21 May 2021, showcasing a celebration of Derby’s industrial heritage, a 300-year history of innovation, design and manufacturing in the city. It also sets the context for the ‘valley that changed the world’ with the birth of the modern factory system along the River Derwent, which helped kickstart the Industrial Revolution.
The groundbreaking project has had funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and Derby City Council, and as well as telling the stories of Derby’s impressive past, the beating heart of the museum is a new workshop full of specialist equipment and skilled staff who are on hand to support modern makers.
Tony Butler, Executive Director, Derby Museums said: “This is no ordinary museum. The unique Grade II listed building and all it represents is now celebrated and safeguarded. The Museum of Making tells the story of our industrial and creative past, but it is also a hub for modern makers through the facilities and support on offer.”
Visitors can encounter the newly renovated Grade I listed Bakewell Gates, which have stood at the front of Derby Silk Mill since 1725, and enter the new Civic Hall - a triple height glass atrium that forms the entrance to the new museum. This space had to be built around a seven-tonne Rolls-Royce Trent 1,000 engine, which is suspended from the ceiling above visitors’ heads as they explore the museum’s vast collection.
Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director for Arts Council England, said: “As part of our National Portfolio, through our Capital building investment and the Culture Recovery Fund, we’re really proud to have supported the new Museum of Making over the years - from planning right through to fruition. It’s fantastic to see this innovative restoration celebrate Derby’s rich industrial legacy and I hope it will be a great source of pride for the people of the city.
“We are pleased to champion the role creativity plays in bringing history to life and hope the museum inspires local and international visitors to explore Derby’s unique heritage in a creative way for many years to come.”
The museum opening also kickstarts a range of events and activities around which arts, cultural and city-wide organisations have been collaborating to help celebrate 300 years of creativity and making across the region. The ‘300’ programme – marking the tri-centenary of Derby Silk Mill in 2021 – brings together events across the county.
