whatsin-wilmslow:: museums

Museums

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery
Terrace Rpad
Buxton
Derbyshire SK17 6DA
Tel: 01298 24658
Website: www.derbyshire.gov.uk
Distance: Approx. 15 miles
Opening Times: Tuesday - Friday: 9.30am - 5.30pm Saturday: 9.30am - 5.00pm Closed on Sunday and Monday

Mainly local information and displays by local artists.

Admission free.

Gallery of Costume, and Platt Hall
Platt Hall and Park
Platt Fields
Wilmslow Road
Rusholme
Manchester M14 5LL
Tel: 0161 224 5217
Website: www.manchestergalleries.org
Distance: approx. 7 miles
Opening Times: The last Saturday of the month: 10.00am - 5.00pm or pre-booked appointments or researchers (by appointment only): Tuesday - Friday: 10.00am - 12.00pm or 1.00pm - 5.00pm

This elegant 1764 early Georgian house was the home of Charles Worsley - a staunch parliamentarian and leader in the civil war.
It contains one of the finest collections of clothing ,textiles and fashion accessories in the country. There is also an extensive library.

Admission free.

Imperial War Museum North
Trafford Wharf Road
Trafford Park
Manchester M17 1TZ
Tel: 0161 836 4007
Website: www.iwm.org.uk/north
Opening Times: 10.00am - 6.00pm daily. Closed December 24th, 25th and 26th.

Opened in 2002 an impressive building next to the Lowry.
Exhibits are in chronological order and include personal memorabilia.
The emphasis is on the people involved in the war and how their lives were affected.

Regular temporary exhibitions and lectures.

Admission free.

Liverpool at War
Albert Dock, Liverpool
Tel: 0151 478 4499
Website: www.merseysidemaritimemuseum.org.uk

10th July 2003 to May 2004. The story of Merchant ships and seafarers at the Merseyside Maritime Museum

Manchester Jewish Museum
190 Cheetham Hill Road
Manchester M8 8LW
Tel: 0161 834 9879
Website: www.manchesterjewishmuseum.com
Distance: Approx. 13 miles
Opening Times: Monday - Thursday: 10.30am - 4.00pm Sunday: 10.30am - 5.00pm Closed on Saturday and Jewish holidays

This museum describes the story of the Jewish community in Manchester over the past 200 years.
There are also temporary exhibitions covering a wide variety of topics.

Disabled access: there is an audio guide for visually impaired visitors.

Admission fee: telephone for details.

Museum of Science and Industry
Liverpool Road
Castlefield
Manchester M3 4FP
Tel: 0161 832 1830
Website: www.msim.org.uk
Distance: Approx. 11 miles
Opening Times: Open daily: 10.00am - 5.00pm

Based in one of the world's oldest railway stations, this museum houses 15 varied, informative and entertaining galleries. These include the air and space gallery, underground Manchester and a 'hands on' science centre for younger visitors.

There are regular visiting exhibitions.

A museum club is held each Saturday morning for 8 year olds and above. For information about this, telephone: 0161 275 2630.

Admission free but there may be a charge for special exhibitions.

Museum of Transport in Manchester
Boyle Street
Cheetham Hill
Manchester
Tel: 0161 205 2122
Website: www.gmts.co.uk
Distance: Approx. 12 miles
Opening Times: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 10.00am - 5.00pm in summer 10.00am - 4.00pm in winter

Displays include buses, fire engines and lorries. They are all restored and maintained by volunteers.

Disabled access.

Admission fees: Adults: ?3.00; Children/Concessions: ?1.75.
Family tickets are also available.

Pankhurst Centre
60 - 62 Nelson Street
Manchester M13 9WP
Tel: 0161 273 5673
Distance: Approx. 10 miles
Opening Times: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday: 1.00pm - 5.00pm

62 Nelson Street is a small Georgian house which was the home of Emmeline Pankhurst who, with daughter Christabel, set up the Women's Social and Political Union in 1903. This eventually led to equal rights for women.
The museum tells the story of the fight for equal rights, and it contains an authentic re-creation of Emmeline Pankhurst's parlour.

Admission free.

Paradise Mill
Park Lane
Macclesfield SK11 6TL
Tel: 01625 618228
Website: www.silk-macclesfield.org
Opening Times: Guided tours: 11.30am, 1.00pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm

Live demonstrations of the intricate art of weaving silk.
There are 26 restored Jacquard handlooms on display and details about life at the mill in the 1930s.
The mill still produces silk ties and ribbons.

Pumphouse People's Museum
Left Bank, Bridge Street
Manchester M3 3ER
Tel: 0161 839 6061
Website: www.nmlhweb.org
Distance: Approx. 10 miles
Opening Times: Open daily, except Mondays: 11.00am - 4.30pm

This is the national study for the records and study of the history of working people.
The museum also traces the rise of the labour movement.
It is housed in a former Edwardian hydraulic pumping station.

Admission charge: ?1. Free on Fridays.

Silk Museum - Heritage Centre
Heritage Centre
Roe Street
Macclesfield SK11 6UT
Tel: 01625 613210
Website: www.silk-macclesfield.org
Opening Times: Tuesday - Saturday: 11am - 5pm Sunday: 1pm - 5pm

This museum describes the development of the silk industry in Macclesfield. It is housed in an old Sunday School building and helps to bring the thriving heritage of Macclesfield to life.

Silk Museum - Park Lane
Park Lane
Macclesfield SK11 6TL
Tel: 01625 613210
Website: www.silk-macclesfield.org
Distance: approx. 8 miles
Opening Times: Tuesday - Saturday: 11.00am - 5.00pm Sunday: 1.00pm - 5.00pm

The only museum devoted entirely to the history of the silk industry.
This is housed in the old Macclesfield school of art which was originally built to train designers in the silk industry.
Exhibitions explore the properties of silk and the development of design.
Also they have displays of historic machinery and information about the lives of workers in the silk industry.
There are many interactive displays.

The Hat Museum
Stockport
Tel: 0161 355 7770
Website: www.hatworks.org

The UKs only dedicated Hat museum featuring the history and production of Hats in the region right on our doorstep.

The Manchester Museum
University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL
Tel: 0161 275 2634
Website: www.museum.man.ac.uk
Distance: Approx. 10 miles
Opening Times: Monday - Saturday: 10.00am - 5.00pm Sunday: 11.00am - 4.00pm

Exhibits from every corner of the globe.
The origins of the museum lie in the wealth created by Manchester's international trade in textiles in the late 18th century. This, coupled with the great quest for knowledge and improvement in medicine, science and the arts at the time, in what was the world's first great industrial city, is the basis for this collection.
Exhibits are extremely diverse. For example, they range from butterflies to armoury and from coins to pottery.

Many special events are held to add extra interest for adults and children.

Admission free but there may be a charge for special exhibitions.

use the website from Manchester Museum www.alderleyedge.man.ac.uk to learn more about the History, Folklore and social history of Alderley Edge

Urbis
Cathedral Gardens
Manchester
Tel: 0161 605 8200
Website: www.urbis.org.uk
Distance: Approx. 10 miles
Opening Times: 10.00am - 6.00pm daily, 8.00pm on Saturdays

A glass futuristic building in the centre of Manchester concentrating on the humanside of life.
The museum investigates the experience of life in cities around the world (including Manchester), and human responses to these experiences.
Plenty of 'hands on' exhibits.

Disabled access is available throughout.

Admission charge: Adult: ?5. Reduced admission for children and concessions. Family tickets available.

Warrington Museum and Art Gallery
Bold Street
Warrington
Cheshire WA1 1JG
Tel: 01925 442392
Distance: Approx. 20 miles
Opening Times: Monday - Friday: 10.00am - 5.30pm Saturday: 10.00am - 5.00pm Closed on Sunday

Local information and displays but also exhibitions by reknowned artists.

Admission free.

West Park Museum
West Park
Prestbury Road
Macclesfield SK10 3BJ

Tel: 01625 619831
Website: www.silk-macclesfield.org
Distance: approx. 8 miles
Opening Times: Tuesday - Sunday: 1.30pm - 4.30pm

A wide range of fine and decorative art material and objects relating to local industry and life in Macclesfield in past centuries.
There is also a display to take the visitor on a journey through ancient Egypt.
There are regular temporary exhibitions.

Admission is free.

Galleries