Flower Makers’ Museum
Small basement museum in Hastings Old Town showing the tools and machines of a long-running artificial flower and leaf maker.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Flower Makers’ Museum is in the basement of the shop of the Shirley Leaf and Petal Company at 58a High Street in Hastings Old Town. The family company has made artificial flowers, petals, leaves and foliage by hand for more than a century. It started in east London and moved to Hastings in 1910, and its work has been used in film, television, theatre and fashion.
The museum displays the company’s own working history. Visitors see thousands of cutting tools, presses and moulds, along with bales of fabric and boxes of samples and correspondence from past jobs. A recreated early 20th century factory office has ledgers and a clocking-in machine. The museum is more of a workshop than a conventional museum, and visitors can look around at their own pace.
Highlights
- Thousands of original cutting tools, presses and moulds
- Recreated early 20th century factory office
- Fabrics, samples and records from film and theatre commissions
- Working flower-making company on the same premises
- Founded
- 1993
- Operated by
- Shirley Leaf and Petal Co
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £1 |
|---|
Admission of £1 is given in a regional tourism listing.
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 museum is in a basement below the shop and is reached by stairs, according to visitor reports; no accessibility information is published by the museum.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum is on the High Street in Hastings Old Town.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum is in the basement of the Shirley Leaf and Petal Co shop on the High Street.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Workshops and tours with demonstrations can be arranged by telephone or through the company’s Instagram page. |
