The West Park Museum’s collections will find a new home at the Silk Museum and Macclesfield Town Hall
Macclesfield: A collection of ten paintings from a museum in Cheshire is about to find a new home. The West Park Museum was deemed unsuitable for its collections back in 2015, leading to some items being moved to the Silk Museum.
Now, Cheshire East Council is looking to make this move permanent. They want to relocate the collections to both the Silk Museum and Macclesfield Town Hall. Refurbishing the West Park Museum would cost around £1.5 million, which the council just can’t swing right now.
The museum was a gift to the town from Marianne Brocklehurst and her brother. Marianne was quite the adventurer in the 19th century and even brought back Egyptian artifacts from her travels. The council owns the museum, but a trust manages the care and access to the collections.
Back in 2019, they tried to get funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the museum, but that didn’t pan out. In 2022, conservators recommended that all remaining items be removed, sending them to the Silk Museum for conservation or into storage.
Under the new plan, ten paintings will go to Macclesfield Town Hall, while the rest will be displayed at the Silk Museum. Most of the collections are already there and have been a hit with visitors.
Councillor Michael Gorman emphasized the importance of this collection for local residents. John Varney from the Silk Heritage Trust also highlighted how these collections tell the story of the wealth from the silk industry and its connection to important artifacts.
The council will discuss these relocation plans at a meeting on January 14.
