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Museums in Derbyshire and the Peak District

Museums and Heritage Centres in Derbyshire and the Peak District


Alfreton & District Heritage Trust
Rodgers Lane, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7FF Tel: 01773 831682
A local heritage centre covering the area around Alfreton. On display are a collection of photographs, paintings, maps and artefacts relating to the area or used by local householders. Books, postcards and videos published by the trust are on sale.


Bakewell Old House Museum
Cunningham Place, North Church Street, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1DD Tel: 01629 813642
Dates Open: March 29 to October 31- 1.30pm to 4.00pm Open Times: July to August - 11.00am to 4.00pm
Archives, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Social History

Belper Heritage Centre
St. Johns Chapel, The Butts, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 1HX Tel: 01773 822116


Buxton Museum & Art Gallery
Terrace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6DA Tel: 01298 24658
Open All Year (except Mondays, Christmas Day, Boxing day and New Years Day). Open Times: Tuesday to Friday 9.30am-5.30pm, Saturday 9am-5pm
Two galleries, the museum also holds many events and festivals throughout the year
see www.buxtononline.net


Belper North Mill
(Derwent Valley Visitor Centre) Winter opening: - Saturday & Sunday Summer opening: - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday Also open bank holiday Mondays We open at any time for pre booked groups Times: - 1pm – 5pm
The Belper North Mill is the home of the Derwent Valley Visitor Centre, an important element of the National Heritage Corridor. It now contains a whole range of stories illustrating the development of the factory community in the 18th and 19th centuries. Examples of Hargreaves Spinning Jenny, Arkwrights Water Frame and Cromptons Mule take pride of place. There are also examples of stocking making machines and the ancient art of chevening - the decoration of stockings by hand.
see www.belpernorthmill.org


Castleton Village Museum
Methodist Church Schoolroom, Buxton Road, Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 8WP Tel: 01433 620950
Open Sundays 2.00-5.00pm from May to October plus additional times June to August.
Castleton village museum contains a display of Garland memorabilia


Chesterfield Museum & Art Gallery
St Mary's Gate, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 7TD Tel: 01246 345727
Open throughout the year Monday to Saturday (closed Wednesday and Sunday). Open Times: 10am - 4pm
Opened in 1994, Chesterfield Museum is a testament to the town's long and important social and industrial history, from its beginnings as a Roman fort until the present day. Its most impressive exhibit is the original 7 metre high, builders' windlass which was used in the construction of Chesterfield Parish Church ('The Crooked Spire') all the way back in the 14th century. There are examples of excavations of Roman ruins from the town centre, and artefacts from its coal-mining, engineering and pottery past.


Claymills Pumping Station
Meadow Lane, Stretton, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 0DB Tel: 01283 509929
Open: All year Open Times: Saturday 10am - 5pm
see www.claymills.org.uk


Crich Tramway Village
Crich Tramway Village, nr Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5DP. Telephone: 01773 854321 Fax: 01773 854320
see www.tramway.co.uk


Derby Gaol and Pie Shop
50/51 Friar Gate, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 1DF Tel: 01332 299321
Situated in the depths of the original dungeons of the Derbyshire County Gaol dating back to 1756, the Derby Gaol offers a reminder of the city's grisly past


Derby Industrial Museum
Silk Mill Lane, off Full Street, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 3AR Tel: 01332 255308
Derby Industrial Museum is on the site of the world's oldest factories, the Silk Mills built by George Sorocold in 1702 and 1717. The foundations and parts of the tower from the 1717 mill are still visible.
Industrial heritage and achievement of Derby and its people with a special emphasis on the development of Rolls-Royce aero engines and the railway industry. Other displays cover local industries such as mining, pottery and foundry work. The Power Gallery covers the story of motive power in industry with hands-on exhibits. There is an area devoted to regularly-changing temporary exhibitions, and a programme of educational activities.


Derby Museum & Art Gallery
The Strand, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 1BS Tel: 01332 716659
Open Times: Tues - Sat 10am - 5pm, Mon 10pm - 5pm, Sun 2pm - 5pm

Derbyshire Constabulary Museum
St Marys Gate, Derby, Derbyshire, S41 7TY Tel: 01332 255802 - Could be moving soon


Donington Grand Prix Collection
Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby, Derbyshire, DE74 2RP Tel: 01332 811027 Fax: 01332 812829
Open All year ( except December 25 to January 01) Open Times: monday to Sunday 9am - 5pm (last admission 4pm)
See Donington Grand Prix Collection


Erewash Museum
High Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 5JA Tel: 0115 9071141
Open Times: Tues, Thur, Fri, Sat - 4pm
See www.erewash.gov.uk

Eyam Museum
Open Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holidays. 10.00 am to 4.30 pm. (Last admissions at 4.00pm). 22nd March - 6th November 2005
The Museum tells the story of the development of a community from prehistoric to modern times. Eyam attracts attention due to the tragic epidemic of Bubonic Plague in the middle of the 17th century, its subsequent social and industrial development, and its fascinating geology and prehistory
See www.eyam-museum.org.uk/


Glossop Heritage Centre
Bank House, Henry Street, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 8BW Tel: 01457 869176
Open all year Monday - Saturday Open Times: 10.30am - 4.30pm

Leawood Pumphouse Cromford , Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 4LS
Opening hours: Sunday: July & August 2pm - 5pm There are also open days throughout the summer where you can see the steam pump in action. These are: August 2 & 3, 24 & 25 and October 4 & 5.


Little Chester Heritage Centre
The Centre is based in St Paul's Church on Mansfield Road in Chester Green, a suburb of Derby


Masson Mills Working Textile Museum
Derby Road, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, DE4 3PY Tel: 01629 581001
Open Times: Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm, Sat/Sun 11am - 4pm
See www.massonmills.co.uk


M & C Collection of Historic Motorcycles
Matlock Street, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1EE Tel: 01629 815011
Open: Please phone for dates of opening. Open Times: 11am - 5pm
The M&C Collection emphasises the development of the motorcycle from the early days of the 20th century, through the vintage period to the classic post WWII period. The exhibits are all surrounded by a fascinating collection of period memorabilia.


Midland Railway Centre
Butterley Station, Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3QZ Tel: 01773 570140
See Midland Railway Centre


Moira Furnace & Ashby Canal Museum
Furnace Lane, Moira, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE12 6AT Tel: 01283 224667 Fax: 01283 224667
Open: All year (except Christmas and New Years Day) Open Times: Tuesday to Sunday 11.30am - 5pm
Spectacular brick structure completed in 1806 and now a scheduled Ancient Monument. It houses a fascinating, hands-on exhibition, with talking models, computer graphics, experiments, sound and light effects. See how iron making developed and why the building survives today. Short boat trip are sometimes available, along the ashby canal from the furnace to the lock and back, lasting approx. 30 mins.


National Trust Museum of Childhood
Sudbury Hall, Sudbury, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 5HT Tel: 01283 585305

Situated in the 19th century service wing of Sudbury Hall, the Museum contains fascinating displays about children from the 18th century onwards. Glimpse into the past and experience growing up during the last 100 years. Fascinating displays ranging from a wealthy family's nursery and an Edwardian schoolroom to a chimney climb and coal tunnel for adventurous youngsters. Come for a visit and find out how children lived and worked in the past
See www.nationaltrust.org.uk


National Stone Centre
Porter Lane, Middleton by Wirksworth, Derbyshire, DE4 4LS Tel: 01629 824833
Dates Open: Daily except Christmas Day Open Times: 10am - 4pm (winter), 5pm (summer)
Telling the Story of Stone - history, science, technology, art, environment - in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales on the edge of the Peak District. A dramatic site steeped in industrial history, ecology, displaying 330 million year old fossil tropical reefs.
See www.nationalstonecentre.org.uk


New Mills Heritage and Information Centre
Open Tuesday - Friday, 11am - 4pm Saturday - Sunday, 10.30am - 4.30pm (4pm in winter)
A magnificent model of the town in 1884 - the year in which the Union Road high level bridge over the Torrs was built - with an accompanying commentary, describes the growth of industrial New Mills. The later growth of engraving and printing industries and development of New Mills as a town and community are also described. See New Mills Heritage and Information Centre


Peak District Mining Museum
The Pavilion, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, DE4 3NR Tel: 01659 583834
Open: Daily except Christmas Day Open Times: 10am - 5pm
A museum where you can experience and wonder at the forgotten world of a Derbyshire lead miner. See the tools they used, clothes they wore, the advances in technology and the importance of this metal in our modern day lives See www.peakdistrictleadminingmuseum.co.uk/


Pickfords House Museum
Pickfords House, 41 Friar Gate, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 1DA Tel: 01332 255363
Open Times: Monday 11am - 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 2 - 5pm
Pickford's House, a Grade One listed building, was built in 1770 by the architect Joseph Pickford as his family home and work premises


Royal Crown Derby Museum
194 , Osmaston Road, Derby, Derbyshire, DE24 8JZ Tel: 01332 712841 Fax: 01332 712863
Royal Crown Derby houses the most comprehensive collection of Derby Porcelain to be seen anywhere in the world.
See www.royal-crown-derby.co.uk


Red House Stables & Carriage Museum
Old Road, Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2ER Tel: 01629 733583 Fax: 01629 733583
All year, daily, 1 Mar-31 Oct, 1000-1700; 1 Nov-28 Feb, Closed 25 Dec. Open Times: Daily 10am - 5pm
One of the finest collections of original horse drawn vehicles and equipment in Britain.


Renishaw Stables Museum and Art Gallery
Renishaw Hall
John Piper Gallery and a museum containing Sitwell memorabilia and photographs, many having been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery. Also on display are costumes and uniforms from the last 150 years, including couture dresses.
See www.sitwell.co.uk


Sharpe's Pottery West Street, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 9DG Tel: 01283 222600
Open: All year ( except December 25 to January 01) Open Times: Monday - Saturday 10am -5pm
Sharpe's Pottery was one of the earliest pottery works to be built in the South Derbyshire district. It was founded in 1821 by Thomas Sharpe as a diversification from his main business of farming. Now a Conference Suite with a visitors center offering pottery displays


Shardlow Heritage Centre
Provides a fascinating insight into the 18th century canal transhipment port of Shardlow. See homepages.which.net/~shardlow.heritage


Wirksworth Heritage Centre
Heritage and Visitor Centre shows through numerous exhibits and hands on experiences how the town and the surrounding area has grown over the last two thousand years. Come and spend some time re-living the experiences and cUstoms of this quaint little town







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Peak District Trails

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