The Story of Wirksworth

The Story of Wirksworth

Wirksworth Heritage Centre

Wirksworth Timeline

Coming soon, historical articles and features, do you have something to submit? Get in touch!

               
Welcome to Wirksworth Heritage Centre   

This website is currently being developed. For full details of our displays, exhibits and projects please contact us. Tel: 01629 825 225. Email: enquiries@storyofwirksworth.co.uk. Thank-you             

 

We are a unique local history museum, housed in an old silk mill, who exist to tell 'the story of Wirksworth', a beautiful and ancient leadmining town in the heart of Derbyshire. 

The Old Silk Mill      The Old Silk Mill




We have three floors:


The ground floor houses Crown Yard Kitchen which sells good quality home cooked meals the Gift Shop and Art Gallery (pictured below) and museum display area. 






The first floor houses the spooky 'Dream Cave', history of lead mining displays and the (recently) restored clothes of the local Gell family

                            

                                                                                                          




The top floor houses a 19th century banner produced by a Wirksworth branch of the Friendly Society movement, and 'Home Front' a
permanent exhibition about people in Wirksworth during World War Two.

19th century Friendly Society banner                                                                   




The T'owd Man, meaning leadminer, is our symbol and mascot (and local legend with his own bitter!). The sculpture below left is a copy of a 12th century carving of T'owd Man found in Bonsall just outside Wirksworth. The original is now in Wirksworth Church, a short walk from the Heritage Centre. The stone copy is on permanent display on the second floor of the Heritage Centre. 

Below is the symbol for the local T'owd Man bitter brewed by Wirksworth Brewery.

          Image of Wirksworth brewed T'owd Man bitter