Paradise Mill

About the museum

Paradise Mill was built in the 1860s and produced luxury silk goods, including for London retailers, until it closed in 1981. It has been left largely unchanged since, and is the only survivor of Macclesfield's many silk mills that can be seen in its original working setting. At its peak the town had around 5,000 looms in 71 mill factories and was the world's largest producer of finished silk.

The mill houses the largest collection of silk Jacquard handlooms in their original setting, plus a recreated design suite. The Jacquard mechanism, which used punched cards to control the pattern, is regarded as an ancestor of computer programming.

Today Paradise Mill is the factory-floor part of the Silk Museum, which occupies the former School of Art building next door on Park Lane. Resident weavers carry out loom restoration and weaving in the mill, and visitors can join a guided tour or enter in a timed slot and explore at their own pace.

Highlights

• Largest collection of Jacquard silk handlooms in their original setting
• Guided tours by trained guides
• Recreated design suite
• Resident weavers restoring and working the looms
• Children's activity trail about a Victorian millworker

Permanent exhibition

• Paradise Mill working silk mill – The preserved factory floor with restored Jacquard handlooms, a recreated design suite and displays about the lives of the mill workers.

Admission & discounts

The ticket prices above are for Paradise Mill; the neighbouring Silk Museum galleries are free to enter.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

Paradise Mill is a listed industrial building with uneven floors and some small spaces. It is reached by three flights of shallow stairs (49 steps) or by a refurbished lift suitable for wheelchairs. An accessible toilet with baby changing and accessible parking are at the Silk Museum next door; there is no public toilet in the mill itself.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Children can follow an interactive activity trail in the shoes of a Victorian child millworker; free activity packs and workshops are offered by the Silk Museum.

Getting there & parking

Reached via the A523. National Cycle Network route 55 passes a few streets away.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The café and gift shop are in the Silk Museum next door; the Tunnicliffe Garden is also on the site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit