David Mellor Design Museum

About the museum

The David Mellor Design Museum is part of the David Mellor visitor site in Hathersage, in the Peak District National Park. David Mellor, born in Sheffield, was one of the best-known British designers of the 20th century, famous for his cutlery. He also designed the national traffic light system in the 1960s, a square post box, street furniture and minimalist cutlery for government canteens and hospitals. He opened his first shop in London in 1969, retired in 2005 and died in 2009. His son Corin Mellor is now creative director of the company.

The site stands on the former Hathersage gas works of 1906 and 1907. The Round Building, a circular cutlery factory designed by the architect Sir Michael Hopkins, was completed in 1990 and has won several architecture awards. David Mellor cutlery is still made there. The museum opened in 2006 in a second building designed by Hopkins.

The museum shows the historic collection of the work of David and Corin Mellor, from handmade silver to traffic lights. An outdoor Street Scene display shows examples of the street furniture he designed. The site also has a country shop with tableware and kitchenware, and a café, Riverside Kitchen, that faces the Round Building. Guided tours of the factory are offered on Sundays.

Highlights

• Collection of the work of David and Corin Mellor, from silver to traffic lights
• Round Building cutlery factory by Sir Michael Hopkins, with Sunday factory tours
• Outdoor Street Scene display of street furniture
• Country shop and Riverside Kitchen café on site
• Free parking on site

Permanent exhibitions

• The work of David and Corin Mellor – The historic collection of David Mellor’s designs and those of his son Corin, from handmade silver and cutlery to traffic lights and street furniture.
• Street Scene – An outdoor display of David Mellor’s street furniture designs, such as lighting columns, bus shelters, litter bins and bollards.

Founded

2006

Operated by

David Mellor Design Ltd

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

The design museum is free to enter. Guided tours of the Round Building factory are ticketed and booked online; the tour price is not stated on the museum’s page.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site has not published detailed access information; visitors can phone beforehand. The café and shop welcome dogs.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Children are welcome. The visitor site has baby changing facilities, high chairs and a children’s menu in the café.

Getting there & parking

The site lies just outside Hathersage on the B6001. From 14 September to 16 October 2026 the B6001 between Grindleford and Hathersage is closed to traffic; the site can be reached from the Hathersage side, and the museum gives a signed diversion via the A6187 and B6521.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Riverside Kitchen café with 42 seats and a terrace (walk-in only; open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 11:00 to 17:00, last orders 16:30, lunch 11:30 to 15:00) and the David Mellor Country Shop opposite the Round Building. Both are dog friendly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit