Museum of Making

The Museum of Making occupies a historic 18th-century silk mill building and displays thousands of objects that document how things were made. The exhibits show techniques and materials used across different time periods, from early craft methods to modern manufacturing approaches.

The building was once the world's first modern factory and made Derby a manufacturing hub during the Industrial Revolution. Production later shifted away from the city, but the structure was preserved and converted into a museum that documents this industrial past.

The name refers to Derby's long tradition of making and craftsmanship, which you can trace through the objects on display throughout the building. You see how people created everyday items across different periods and what techniques and materials they relied on to do so.

The museum is open on most days of the week and the building is accessible to visitors with mobility needs or those with strollers. You should plan to spend at least a couple of hours to explore the different exhibition areas throughout the building.

When you enter the main hall, a massive seven-tonne aircraft engine hangs from the ceiling, immediately showing you the scale and complexity of modern machinery. Elsewhere in the exhibitions sits the world's smallest engine, powered entirely by human hair, creating an interesting contrast.

Location: City of Derby

Inception: 1974

Official opening: 1974

Operator: Derby City Council

Part of: Derby Museums

Address: Silk Mill Lane, off Full Street

Website: https://derbymuseums.org/museum-of-making

GPS coordinates: 52.92580,-1.47583

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:56