Welcome to Paradise
Step back in time at Paradise Mill…
Paradise Mill is the factory floor part of the Silk Museum and is open to the public for guided tours.
The mill is the sole survivor of Macclesfield’s industrial and creative past, housing the largest collection of silk Jacquard handlooms in their original setting, plus a recreated Design Suite. Macclesfield was at one time the world's largest producer of finished silk, with 5,000 looms in 71 mill factories. The Jacquard mechanism, perfected by Joseph-Marie Jacquard, is considered a precursor to modern computing because it used binary code to automate a machine. This transformed the weaving process, catapulting industrial production into an era of great progress.
Built in 1862, Paradise Mill produced luxury silk goods for an international audience including retailers such as Liberty of London until it closed in 1981 and has been left largely untouched until this day.
Our guides will demonstrate how this luxurious textile was made on these incredible handlooms.
Explore the lives of the millworkers who created silk here throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Discover the social history and political background of the silk industry.
Tours run Wednesday to Saturday at 11.00am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
Please book via the button below or call in to the museum.
A tour of Paradise Mill reveals a world of stories…
GROup tours
Larger groups can get a discounted rate by pre-booking a private tour of Paradise Mill.
“Thanks to Tim I now understand how looms work and how hard it was to work in such a place. It’s like taking a step back in time.”
Access at Paradise Mill
Paradise Mill is a listed industrial building. It has original features, which means that the floor is uneven and some of the spaces are small. Paradise Mill can be accessed by a recently refurbished lift suitable for wheelchairs and via three flights of stairs, totalling 49 steps.
Paradise Mill is part of the Silk Museum. Click here for more details on access at the Silk Museum.
“I love the atmosphere of the Mill space itself; the pitch pine wood that forms the Mill’s interior architectural structure, including the loom frames. There’s history in every bit of wear and tear on the wood; evidence of the people that worked there in the past. The fact that these looms are the same looms that were used by Cartwright & Sheldon weavers is what makes the Paradise Mill space magical.”
Meet our guides
Our Tour Guides are passionate storytellers with a love for the place they work. Come and find out why it’s such a great place!
Jude Blackholly
A teacher with a passion for heritage.
My Origin Story
As a teacher I brought a Year 5 class to Paradise Mill and felt jealous that I wasn't working here myself! So I applied for the job, and the rest is history.
My Special Interest
I’m used to communicating with children of all ages and understand how difficult it can be to engage some pupils. I love showing the mill to family groups and try my best to add fun facts and 'horrible histories' for children, whilst giving adults an insight into the social history of Macc’s silk industry.
What I Love Most About Paradise Mill
The mill floor is an amazing place to work. The smells, the sounds and the stories make it easy to bring history alive. I love telling the stories of the jobs that the men, women and children did here, demonstrating the machinery and explaining its part in the production of silk.
My Most Special or Interesting Macc Fact
I like the quote from the film The Million Pound Note (1954) starring Gregory Peck, “Fetch the ties from Macclesfield!', which illustrates how important Macclesfield silk was worldwide.
Trish Halloran
A problem solving loom restorer.
My Origin Story
I started at the museum as a volunteer working on the looms at Paradise Mill, which led to a love of the mill and an interest in all the machinery, and eventually a job as a tour guide. My first love is still maintaining the machines and I have helped with a complete restoration of one of our Jacquard hand looms.
My Special Interest
Part of my expertise is levelling the heddles on the Jacquard harness. I recently levelled 5760 individual heddles on my own, having to work out the best method of doing this by trial and error!
What I Love Most About Paradise Mill
I love the mill and its unique atmosphere. It’s a privilege and honour to weave on handlooms that are well over 150 years old; the same looms and in the same place that some of the best professional weavers used to earn their livings weaving top quality cloth for some of the most prestigious clients of the day. It is truly special.
My Most Special or Interesting Macc Fact
Most special is that Charles Roe, who started the silk industry, also built the church where I ring the bells - I like the connection between my job and my hobby.
Best Review
“..had a great morning learning about the silk trade in Macclesfield from our very well informed guide Trish who shared her knowledge with great passion.”
Daniel Hearn
A master of the Jacquard mechanism.
My Origin Story
Paradise Mill and its Jacquard handlooms captured my imagination from the very start; I knew that I wanted to immerse myself in the history of these machines. I saw connections with my interests in maths and music and in my other work in photographic art and paper engineering, where meticulous attention to detail and accuracy is required. Paradise Mill is my paradise.
My Special Interest
The Jacquard mechanism and the punched card system of automation; this technology has a fascinating history and influence. I am drawn to the logic and precision that is required in restoring, maintaining and operating these machines. Being part of this team and working alongside weavers in residence producing their new fabric designs on these historic looms is a real privilege. This gives my tours a greater technical clarity and helps connect to and illuminate the stories of the working life of Cartwright & Sheldon and its employees.
What I Love Most About Paradise Mill
Aside from the Jacquard mechanism and new fabric designs being woven, I would have to say it is the atmosphere of the Mill space itself; the pitch pine wood that forms the Mill's interior architectural structure, including the loom frames. There’s history in every bit of wear and tear on the wood; evidence of the people that worked there in the past. From a photographic point of view, it is beautiful. The fact that these looms are the same looms that were used by Cartwright & Sheldon weavers is what makes the Paradise Mill space magical.
My Most Special or Interesting Macc Fact
The vast amount of training and separate skills required to do many of these jobs in the textile industry. The apprenticeship systems to properly learn these skills were critical to the success of the industry. The Macclesfield School Of Art and Technical College were important to the town and renowned in the country. We are now helping to keep these endangered heritage craft skills going with our historic looms and that makes Macclesfield and Paradise Mill a very special place in the world.
Best Review
“Dan, our guide, was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic; he adapted the tour to the interests of those on it.”
Daisy Hughes
An explorer of marginalised histories.
My Origin Story
I’ve spent 18 years working in heritage and history (with frequent jaunts into archaeology). After leaving the National Trust, where I worked for ten years, through chance I found this place and they haven’t been able to get rid of me since!
My Special Interest
As a neurally diverse person I always try to make my tours inclusive to everyone. My specialty is women’s history, as well as drawing in and recovering the marginalised past of Macclesfield and the mill. But with my MA and PhD being in women’s history it does take the focus of my tour, intentionally or not!
What I Love Most About Paradise Mill
Everything! It’s the smell, the atmosphere, the machines! Like the machines themselves, I don’t think I will ever leave.
My Most Special or Interesting Macc Fact
For the first forty years of the 19th century Macclesfield was nicknamed “Women’s Town” due to the high number of women employed in the silk industry, and the high number of men at home with the babies!
Best Review
“Daisy provided a really interesting and vibrant tour of Paradise Mills, she involved the children and made the whole experience enthralling!”
Daniel Hearn
A master of the Jacquard mechanism.
My Origin Story
Paradise Mill and its Jacquard handlooms captured my imagination from the very start; I knew that I wanted to immerse myself in the history of these machines. I saw connections with my interests in maths and music and in my other work in photographic art and paper engineering, where meticulous attention to detail and accuracy is required. Paradise Mill is my paradise.
My Special Interest
The Jacquard mechanism and the punched card system of automation; this technology has a fascinating history and influence. I am drawn to the logic and precision that is required in restoring, maintaining and operating these machines. Being part of this team and working alongside weavers in residence producing their new fabric designs on these historic looms is a real privilege. This gives my tours a greater technical clarity and helps connect to and illuminate the stories of the working life of Cartwright & Sheldon and its employees.
What I Love Most About Paradise Mill
Aside from the Jacquard mechanism and new fabric designs being woven, I would have to say it is the atmosphere of the Mill space itself; the pitch pine wood that forms the Mill's interior architectural structure, including the loom frames. There’s history in every bit of wear and tear on the wood; evidence of the people that worked there in the past. From a photographic point of view, it is beautiful. The fact that these looms are the same looms that were used by Cartwright & Sheldon weavers is what makes the Paradise Mill space magical.
My Most Special or Interesting Macc Fact
The vast amount of training and separate skills required to do many of these jobs in the textile industry. The apprenticeship systems to properly learn these skills were critical to the success of the industry. The Macclesfield School Of Art and Technical College were important to the town and renowned in the country. We are now helping to keep these endangered heritage craft skills going with our historic looms and that makes Macclesfield and Paradise Mill a very special place in the world.
Best Review
“Dan, our guide, was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic; he adapted the tour to the interests of those on it.”
Tim Lightfoot
A social historian of Macclesfield’s silk story.
My Origin Story
I joined the team to keep myself occupied after retiring from the police, and to maintain contact with Macclesfield, the town I was first posted to in 1984. I enjoy meeting people and hearing their memories of their own and their families’ lives.
My Special Interest
I studied Economic and Social History at Sheffield University (1980-83). Our history is always around us on such a small island, it just takes a little curiosity to try and understand the lives of our recent ancestors… Places like Paradise Mill keep their stories alive.
What I Love Most About Paradise Mill
Walking back from the mill after a tour with a customer who wants to talk about their own or their parents jobs and experiences.
My Most Special or Interesting Macc Fact
The pride that Maxonians take in their town and how those who have moved here more recently (including myself) understand that this is a special place.
Best Review
“I was fortunate to get a personal tour of Paradise Mill with Tim. One floor of the building contains a full-on silk mill. Thanks to Tim I now understand how looms work and how hard it was to work in such a place. It’s like taking a step back in time.”
Tina Russell-Cruise
An inclusive enthusiast of all things historical.
My Origin Story
I have always loved museums and history.
My Special Interest
My special interest is inclusion.
What I Love Most About Paradise Mill
The character and atmosphere, the stories of silk workers.
My Most Special or Interesting Macc Fact
We made the deckchairs on the Titanic.
Best Review
“Tina was amazing, so passionate and knowledgeable about not only the history of the museum but also demonstrated how to work some of the machines still there. Definitely worth a visit.”
August
Wednesday 30th July: Tim
Thursday 31st July: Tina
Friday 1st August: Daisy
Saturday 2nd August: Dan
Wednesday 6th August: Tina
Thursday 7th August: Tina
Friday 8th August: Tim
Saturday 9th August: Dan
Wednesday 13th August: Tim
Thursday 14th August: Tina
Friday 15th August: Daisy
Saturday 16th August: Dan
Wednesday 20th August: Tina
Thursday 21st August: Daisy
Friday 22nd August: Daisy
Saturday 23rd August: Dan
Wednesday 27th August: Tina
Thursday 28th August: Tim
Friday 29th August: Daisy
Saturday 30th August: Dan
Please note that this is a guide only. Tour guides may change without warning due to unforeseeable circumstances.
Restoration Of the Looms
Work is now well underway to restore two of the nineteenth century silk Jacquard handlooms thanks to funding granted by the Association for Industrial Archaeology, The Radcliffe Trust and Rogers & Goffigon. Tour guides at the museum, Daniel Hearn, and Trish Halloran, alongside Bea Uprichard and Ruth Farris, are painstakingly undertaking the conservation of the 400-hook handlooms.
Thanks to this work, one handloom is now fully functional and can be seen in action on guided tours, while the second is nearing completion. If you are lucky you may catch our restoration team at work on your next mill visit.
Daniel Hearn, one of the team who has taken on the task, says: “This restoration involves considerable effort, especially the building of a new Jacquard harness. There is more work to do, and still more to learn. Establishing a strong foundation in acquiring these skills means we are taking the first critical steps in ensuring that this niche type of Jacquard handloom weaving remains operational within the extraordinary time capsule that is Paradise Mill.”
Endangered Craft of silk weaving
Silk weaving has now joined the list of Endangered Heritage Craft Skills. Jacquard silk handweaving is a highly time-consuming skill to learn. The Silk Museum has secured funding from The Radcliffe Trust to work up a plan for the conservation of the looms alongside creative placements for emerging craftspeople. Read more about the work of our graduates and the history of female designers at the Mill.
