Welcome to Wirksworth Heritage Centre           


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. 

      




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.

                                                                   

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 first floor of the Heritage Centre. 

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