Nantwich Museum

About the museum

Nantwich Museum was founded in 1980 to look after the history of the Cheshire market town of Nantwich. It is housed in the former town library, a red-brick building from 1888 that stands on the site of an earlier town jail. The museum is run by a local charity and relies on volunteers, members and donations.

The galleries follow the town from Roman salt-making through the Great Fire of 1583 to the Battle of Nantwich in 1644, one of the key events of the English Civil War in Cheshire. A Civil War display opened in 2019 and sits alongside permanent displays about the local salt industry and the shoe trade. Further displays cover the clothing and clock trades, cheese-making, local art and a collection of maps.

Besides the permanent displays the museum shows changing exhibitions of local art and history. It also offers school programmes, talks and guided walks, runs a dementia friendship group and a shared reading group, and lets out its Millennium Gallery for meetings and community events.

Highlights

• Displays on salt-making, shoes and the Civil War
• The Great Fire of Nantwich in 1583
• The Battle of Nantwich in 1644
• Victorian former library building from 1888
• Guided walks and talks about the town

Permanent exhibition

• Nantwich: salt, shoes and the Civil War – Permanent displays on the town's Roman salt-making, the Great Fire of 1583, the shoe trade and the Battle of Nantwich in the Civil War.

Founded

1980

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free. Donations and memberships support the museum.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance has a short flight of steps with a handrail. The step-free route is the side entrance to the left of the main door, where an intercom calls staff. All permanent and changing exhibits are on the ground floor. Wheelchairs are not lent, and because the gallery space is tight, visitors with larger chairs or scooters are advised to contact the museum beforehand. Two all-gender toilets on the ground floor include an accessible toilet with baby-change facilities. The information desk has an induction loop and a portable loop can be requested for talks. Large print and Braille guides, sensory bags, extra seating and a quiet space are available, and a downloadable Visual Story helps with planning. Assistance dogs are welcome; other dogs are not allowed. There are no designated parking spaces at the museum; the nearest free car park for Blue Badge holders is on Love Lane (CW5 5BH).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities

The museum describes itself as family friendly and runs free drop-in craft workshops on selected Saturdays. Baby-change facilities are in the accessible toilet.

Getting there & parking

Crewe station is one stop from Nantwich by train.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Gift shop with books, cards, jewellery, toys and souvenirs; downloadable local history booklets are sold in the online shop. Tea, coffee and cake are served at the coffee morning on the last Friday of each month.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 40 guests.

The Millennium Gallery can be hired in the evening and occasionally in the daytime for meetings, talks, receptions and community events, with a projector, screen and a small kitchen for drinks. Hourly rates apply (from 1 April 2026: 30 GBP for a one-off booking, 25 GBP for regular bookings).

Plan your visit