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See some of the world’s best digital works of art as a V&A touring exhibition makes its first stop in Chester, and immerse yourself in Sven Werner’s audiovisual dreamscape at its global premiere at Storyhouse. See Susie MacMurray’s captivating new textile installation, ‘Gathering’, at Tatton Park, and travel back to the days of the industrial revolution at Ellesmere Port on patrol with a night watchman. Read on for more fascinating ways to investigate how our world works.
| Item |
|---|
| The Silk Museum |
| Tatton Park |
| Anderton Boat Lift |
| Lion Salt Works |
Macclesfield
From cocoon to loom, find out how this old market town shot to global manufacturing fame at the Silk Museum and neighbouring Paradise Mill.
Macclesfield once hummed with the sound of silk looms, music to the ears of the mill owners that prospered here in the 19th century.
Admire Europe’s largest-known collection of Jacquard silk handlooms and learn the secrets of these unique textile machines on a tour with an expert – their workings are thought to have been the crucible for computer programming. Pore over the remarkable collection of more than 1,000 pattern books, see stunning costumes made of the finest silk, and study an outstanding collection of Ancient Egyptian artefacts, including Tutankhamun’s ring, gathered by the daughter of one of the town’s leading families.
Macclesfield is still a place where fabric-making flourishes – at the Makers’ Place get expert insights from today’s craftspeople and pick up a truly special souvenir.
Knutsford
Tatton Park’s Parkland, Gardens,* Farm* and Playground, are all open for local visitors.
**#1 National Trust Garden in the UK 2020**
Tatton Park is open for visitors
Tatton Park’s Parkland, Gardens,* Farm* and Playground, are all open for local visitors.
The Stableyard toilet facilities, Stables Restaurant take-away, Housekeeper’s store, Gift Shop and Tuck Shop are also open for those who live locally to Tatton Park.
Before your visit, please refer to the latest Government Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
*Visits to the Gardens and Farm must be booked online in advance. Visit the Ticketing Page to plan your day.
Re-opening more of the places you love...
The Gardener's Cottage Tea Room and the Mansion both remain closed for now. We are planning to re-open both from 17 May, subject to government guidelines, so please keep checking the website for updates.
Read Tatton Park’s latest covid-19 update for details on what is open and what to expect on your visit.
Northwich
Marvel at the miraculous feat of Victorian engineering they call the ‘Cathedral of the Canals’
Marvel at the miraculous feat of Victorian engineering they call the ‘Cathedral of the Canals’. No wonder it won Visit England’s 2018 Large Visitor Attraction Of The Year - Take a 30-minute boat ride up or down the lift to get the inside track on its workings. If you’ve got a head for heights, try Walking The Lift; venture out along the aqueduct to see the former control room and machine deck, then climb to the very top of this impressive structure for wonderful panoramic views. Little ones will love the new Let’s Play outdoor area, complete with a mock-up of Anderton’s bridge, control house and mooring area, and, inside the Visitor Centre, a lift-themed craft area where young imaginations can fly. Check out, too, the fascinating exhibition about this unique spectacle.
Northwich
Cheshire’s salt – the precious mineral on which this county sits – has been prized since Roman times.
It’s a story brilliantly told at the Lion Salt Works, one of the last open-pan sites in the world, an intriguing warren of stove, boiler and pan houses renovated to reveal how salt was extracted from the underground brine lakes and transformed into a coveted commodity. Immerse yourself in the high-tech wizardry of Salt Pan 3, which recreates the steamy and dangerous conditions where bare-chested men toiled over great vats of the boiling brine. Stand at the bar in the old Red Lion pub, where the workers were once served refreshing pints of beer with a replenishing pinch of salt. Spot the worker’s boots encrusted with salt crystals and the sardine tins that, curiously, wages were paid in. Then step out on the towpath of the Trent & Mersey Canal, where salt was once hauled to Liverpool’s docks, the gateway to the world.
| From | To | Distance * (metric) |
|---|---|---|
| The Silk Museum (53.25754,-2.12736) | Tatton Park (53.33615,-2.38866) | 17.52 |
| Tatton Park (53.33615,-2.38866) | Anderton Boat Lift (53.2745,-2.52763) | 10.36 |
| Anderton Boat Lift (53.2745,-2.52763) | Lion Salt Works (53.2752,-2.49549) | 1.93 |
| Total Distance * | 29.8 miles | |
| Estimated Journey Time | 58 minutes | |
* Approximate distance by road
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