Museum of Making

The Museum of Making is a museum and cultural space housed in the historic Derby Silk Mill on the River Derwent in Derby, England. It is dedicated to the city’s industrial heritage, applied arts and contemporary making practices.

Exhibits combine historical objects, interactive displays and live workshop spaces to illustrate manufacturing, engineering and craft traditions from the local region. The facility places emphasis on hands-on activities and rotating displays rather than a single static collection.

The museum occupies the Silk Mill building, which is part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and interprets the site’s role in early industrial textile manufacture. The museum functions as both gallery and working maker space, hosting demonstrations, education programmes and temporary exhibitions.

The site sits on the River Derwent in central Derby and is integrated with riverside paths and nearby heritage attractions.

• Location context: Located on the River Derwent and part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage context, the building interprets local industrial and manufacturing history.
• Visitor focus: The museum emphasises hands-on making and rotating displays rather than a single large permanent collection, with regular workshops and activity programmes.

What to See #

• Derby Silk Mill: Derby Silk Mill building on the River Derwent, the historic industrial structure that houses the museum and interprets local manufacturing history.
• Workshops and maker spaces: On-site maker and workshop spaces designed for hands-on activities, demonstrations and temporary project installations.