Prescot Museum
Free local history museum in the Prescot Centre telling the story of Knowsley's people, places and industries, from watchmaking to coal mining.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Prescot Museum opened on 29 April 1982 as the Prescot Museum of Clock and Watch Making, celebrating the town's long history as a centre of watch manufacture. Its collections later widened to cover the whole of the borough of Knowsley, including textiles, coins and militaria. For its first thirty years the museum was housed in Cockpit House, a Georgian townhouse on Church Street.
In 2012 the Georgian building was sold to the Shakespeare North Trust, and the museum moved to the Prescot Centre, on the upper level of Prescot Shopping Centre, where it shares the building with Prescot Library. It is an accredited museum run by Knowsley Council, which also runs Kirkby Gallery.
The collection holds about 14,500 objects relating to local people, businesses and industries such as watchmaking, pottery, cable making and coal mining. It includes photographs, letters, receipts, ceramics, tools, costume, coins, trophies and militaria. The displays are being refreshed gradually, and items taken off display are kept in the museum store.
Highlights
- Local history of Knowsley in photographs and objects
- Watchmaking and clockmaking heritage of Prescot
- Pottery, cable making and coal mining displays
- Collection of about 14,500 objects
- Free drawing corner, quiz sheets and family trails
Permanent exhibition
- The story of Knowsley – Displays of images and objects about the people, places and businesses of Knowsley, including watchmaking, pottery, cable making and coal mining. The displays are refreshed gradually.
- Founded
- 1982
- Operated by
- Knowsley Council
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Prescot Museum is free to visit.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- 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 describes the Prescot Centre as an accessible venue with full wheelchair access throughout the building and a lift from the Aspinall Street car park entrance. There is an accessible toilet and a Changing Places facility, and a hearing loop. All the nearby car parks have disabled bays, the nearest being on Aspinall Street, and disabled users get an extra free hour in pay-and-display car parks.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
Free drawing in the kid's corner, quiz sheets, family trails and an apothecary chest to explore.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Prescot railway station · 15-min walk
Prescot railway station is a 10 to 15 minute walk. Buses stop at Prescot Bus Station (Prospero Place) or along High Street and Warrington Road, both about a 5-minute walk along Eccleston Street; routes include 10, 10A, 61, 89, 99, 239, 289 and 297.
By car
Free parking
Free car park behind Prescot Shopping Centre, off Aspinall Street. Other short-stay (pay and display, off High Street and Leyland Street) and long-stay car parks are in the town centre.
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
The museum shares the Prescot Centre with Prescot Library, on the upper level of Prescot Shopping Centre.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Self-led school visits and behind-the-scenes tours of Prescot Museum are not available while the displays are being refreshed; a Museum Explorers pack can be downloaded and clipboards borrowed on site. School sessions are currently offered mainly at Kirkby Gallery. Please do not bring donations without agreeing it with the museum first. |
