Museum of Making Derby

UK Museums: Museum of Making, Derby

Museum of Making

The award-winning Museum of Making in the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site in Derby explores and celebrates the city's rich industrial heritage and ongoing contributions to innovation and manufacturing. Located within the historic Silk Mill, widely regarded as the site of one of the world's first modern factories, the museum is deeply rooted in Derby's identity as a hub of industrial development since the 18th century.

Rolls Royce Engine. — Rolls Royce Engine; the company has its HQ in Derby

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

Exhibits on display. — Exhibits on display on the ground floor

History

The site first opened as Derby's Industrial Museum in 1974. A multi-million pound redevelopment started in 2016, and the museum reopened under the new name of the Museum of Making in 2021. The exhibits are now mostly on the upper floors to reduce the possibilty of flood damage from the nearby River Derwent.

Mannequins of mill workers. — Mannequins of mill workers

A blue plaque on the side of the building honors John Lombe (1693-1722) who established Derby Silk Mill with his half-brother Thomas using Italian winding engines. It was the first successful silk throwing mill in Britain and at is peak employed up to 300 workers. It is now thought to be the first fully mechanised factory in the world. John Lombe acquired the necessary know-how in Italy and brought Italian workers with him to set up his factory. The new competition went down badly with the King of Sardinia and it is speculated that the monarch paid for an assassin to poison Lombe who died in suspicious circumstances at only 29.

The Museum of Making underwent a major redevelopment and reopened in 2021 with a renewed focus on the intersection of history, technology, and community engagement.

The Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine was used in the Spitfire, the Hurricane, the Mustang and the Lancaster. — The Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine powered the Spitfire, the Hurricane, the Mustang and the Lancaster

Exhibits

The museum's exhibits encompass a wide array of objects and narratives, from early industrial machinery to contemporary engineering marvels, reflecting Derby's evolution from a birthplace of the industrial revolution to a center for advanced manufacturing

Notably, the museum features over 30,000 artifacts, including the iconic Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, illustrating Derby's ongoing influence in the fields of aerospace and automotive engineering.

Derby has also long been a center of railway engineering which is reflected in the museum's exhibits. The city's railway engineering heritage began with the establishment of the Midland Railway's locomotive works in 1840, which quickly became one of the most important railway manufacturing centers in the country. Derby's strategic location and its role as a key junction in the national rail network fueled the growth of this industry, attracting skilled engineers and fostering innovation.

The Museum of Making also emphasizes participatory experiences, offering workshops, maker spaces, and interactive displays that encourage visitors to engage directly with the processes of design and production.