Give what you can for museum entry

Macclesfield’s treasured Silk Museum on Park Lane is dropping its admission charge of £4.50 to become a ‘Give What You Can’ destination with visitors being asked instead to make a voluntary donation towards supporting the Museum.

Starting with a free Open Day on Saturday 10^thNovember visitors can learn more about the museum’s exciting plans for the future. At the heart of this new offering will be an important new display – Macclesfield at War –  a collection of war memorials donated by Christ Church and shown together for the first time in one place. Supported by Macclesfield Town Council, the collection represents the first step of a programme exploring the impact of the two World Wars on the people of Macclesfield and the silk industry.

A new Silk Shop will open at the Museum selling a wide variety of exquisite silk products, woven silk pictures, publications and much more.

The Makers’ Place on the first floor will be home to eight talented craftspeople making handmade products – the perfect opportunity to pick up an early Christmas present.

The Silk Museum and adjacent Paradise Mill are two of Macclesfield’s most historically important venues with a unique collection of surviving Jacquard silk looms, pattern books and other unique artefacts charting the social history of our town. From Saturday 24^thNovember, visitors to Paradise Mill can experience A 1940s’ Christmas, for which there will be a modest admission charge.

John Varney, Chair of the Silk Heritage Trust says: “We’re very excited about this new stage in our development. Becoming a ‘Give What You Can’ museum means that we’re removing the admission charge and asking instead for a voluntarydonation to keep this important piece of Macclesfield history alive and thriving. We’re looking forward to welcoming the people of Macclesfield and beyond to our Open Day on Saturday 10^thNovember and hope that everyone takes this chance to re-acquaint themselves with their beautiful local Museum.”

 West Park Museum and The Old Sunday School will both be undergoing a programme of revitalisation with essential conservation work being done at West Park Museum in order to safeguard the collection. Before that takes place, the Museum will host drop-in family crafting workshops over half term from Saturday 27^thOctober to Sunday 4^thNovember. Cinema lovers can continue to enjoy all the latest blockbusters at Cinemac in The Old Sunday School, which is also a regular venue for the Northern Chamber Orchestra.

Dates for your diary: 

• Saturday 27^thOctober to Sunday 4^thNovember, 1.30-3.30pm
  West Park Museum, Prestbury Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3BJ
  ‘Make it Mayhem!’ Family craft drop-in workshops. £3 per person.
• Saturday 10^thNovember, 10.30am-4pm
  Silk Museum, Park Lane, Macclesfield, SK11 6TJ

Free Open Day with activities, the unveiling and dedication of Macclesfield at Warat 11am, Meet the Makersand the opening of the brand new Silk Shop. FREE.

• Saturday 24^thNovember to January 2019
  Paradise Mill,Park Lane, Macclesfield, SK11 6TJ

A 1940s’ Christmas at Paradise Mill. Admission charges will apply.

• Saturday 24^thNovember
  Silk Museum, Park Lane, Macclesfield, SK11 6TJ
  Macclesfield and the World – Marianne Brocklehurst’s Egyptian collection comes home. Give What You Can donation.
• Saturday 15^thDecember from 11am
  The Old Sunday School, Macclesfield, SK11 6UT

A Victorian Christmasat the Old Sunday School: meet Father Christmas in the traditional Victorian parlour! Admission charge will apply.