Macclesfield Silk Museum on Treacle Sundays

Paradise Mill in Macclesfield is home to Europe’s largest collection of Jacquard silk handlooms in their original setting and is designated by Historic England.

Part of The Silk Museum, the mill remains largely unchanged since the last day it operated in 1981 by Cartwright and Sheldon and became a museum in 1984. It now provides a look into what it was like for silk workers in Macclesfield.

Work is currently underway to restore two of the nineteenth century machines thanks to £16,000 funding granted by the Association for Industrial Archaeology. 

The restoration is a huge job, but also a very important one. The Jacquard looms were a precursor to our digital age today. The Jacquard mechanism, invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard, uses cards punched with holes to automate the process of weaving patterns. They are programmable machines and were thought to have inspired both Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace in early methods of computing. The Jacquard cards each contain a pattern and they can then weave a bespoke design.

The looms bring to life the process of silk making and recreate the sights and sounds so visitors can get an insight into the working conditions of creating silk. 

You can visit Paradise Mill either for a guided tour with one of our experts who can reveal a world of stories connected to the Mill. Or you can also call in for a look around tour on the last Sunday of each month. This will give you an insight into the Mill and you can get a sense of the many people who have worked the machines.

On the last Sunday of each month Macclesfield hosts the colourful Treacle Market which sees the handsome cobbled Marketplace, Old Butter Market, St Michael’s churchyard and surrounding streets throng with visitors and over 160 stalls of unique crafts, exceptional lovingly produced food and drink and eclectic vintage finds. Many local shops, galleries and cafes are open on the day also including Macclesfield’s food hall located in a former cinema Picturedrome.

You do not need to book for a look around tour of Paradise Mill just come along on Sunday September 25 at the following times: 13.00, 13.30, 14.00, 14.30 The looks around tours take around 45 minutes. Adults £5.00 and children under 16 years are free.

To book a guided tour for an in depth exploration of the Mill please visit https://macclesfieldmuseums.co.uk/venues/paradise-mill

To find out about Treacle Market visit https://www.treaclemarket.co.uk/about