Welcome to Paradise
Historic Paradise Mill is open once again following an important programme of work which is supported by building owners Allmand-Smith Ltd. Alongside this a generous grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund allows the museum to secure a 125 year lease of the top floor of the Mill.
The restoration of the grade II listed building has ensured that more people can visit this remarkable textile mill in the future.
“The museum is excellent and Paradise Mill is unique with its original looms. The tour was superb. Informative and fascinating tales of the machines and the people who operated them.”
Restoration
Work is now well underway to restore two of the nineteenth century silk Jacquard landlooms thanks to £16,000 funding granted by the Association for Industrial Archaeology. The restoration is a huge job, but also a very important one.
The restored looms will help bring Paradise Mill back to life. For the first time in over 40 years, we are able to weave new fabric on the looms.
GROup tours
Visit us with your group for a brilliant day out. Explore social history, engineering and technology, fashion and design. We can tailor a package to meet your needs. Discover our remarkable pattern books. Try your hand at operating our extraordinary machines that our volunteers have restored. We are close to the foothills of the Peak District and the borders of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Greater Manchester so we can form part of a wider itinerary.
Please email us to book your group visit bookings@silkmacclesfield.org.uk
A little bit of Paradise
Paradise Mill has the largest collection of silk Jacquard looms in Europe in their original setting. The Mill, which is designated by Historic England, is located on the top floor of the building and remains largely untouched since the last day it operated in 1981.
It is designated for its historical significance to the silk industry in Macclesfield. Built in 1860, the rare textile mill has incredible interior features including design suite, director’s office, structural timbers, and of course the 26 handlooms and Jacquard machines.
The atmospheric Mill was last managed by silk manufacturers Cartwright and Sheldon and is now part of the Silk Museum. Restoration work is currently taking place and the Mill is closed to visitors until this is completed.
Access at Paradise Mill
The Silk Museum is split over two sites. The Silk Museum is all on the ground floor and is suitable for prams, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, crutches and Zimmer frame users. A unisex disabled access toilet, with baby changing facilities is available at the Silk Museum. There is a disabled parking bay in the nearby Old Library car park. Paradise Mill is a listed industrial building accessed via three flights of shallow stairs, totalling 49 steps, and there is a lift for wheelchair access.