Macclesfield is the home of silk in Cheshire. The museum displays original machinery and miniature reproductions. This tour will include some rare and unique items of Egyptology and the diary kept by Brocklehurst and Booth mentioned in our March lecture; the diary is only ever on display by prior arrangement.

The Mill tour explains the silk making process, the machinery, and the history of the firm. All machinery which is operational will be demonstrated. The supplementary tour shows a number of Jacquard and silk pattern books of international importance. These patterns have inspired many designers and have been of great interest to others including Dame Zandra Rhodes. These are not generally on display at present and we will have them shown to us by one of the curators.

The Museum opens at 10am, please meet in the entrance area by 10:15am. We will be divided into groups to visit different areas of the site at different times.

No dogs are permitted except guide and assistance dogs. Contact on the day: Eileen Fantom (07309 256236) Disabled access is good throughout the building.

There is no dedicated car park. Duke Street has a long-stay car park, 0·2 miles away: SK11 6UR what3words ranged.pinch.vine Parking there for six hours costs £3·10. The railway station is 0·4 miles away, as is the bus station.

There is a café at the Museum but it does not offer lunch; there are many suitable places nearby. The cost of this visit does not include lunch.