Museums, like fashion designers, work with the seasons. As Easter comes round and spring has almost sprung heritage destinations and museums throw wide their doors once more. The winter months are as busy as any open days. Conservation and cleaning takes place. There are projects and plans to improve the visitor experience. Grants are applied for and reports are written.
The Old House Museum opened its doors with a flourish this week. Artist Rachel Carter has worked on her woven textile sculptures, using materials that include thread from the archive at John Smedley's Lea Bridge Mill. Her work weaves a link between Bakewell's Old House Museum, Richard Arkwright's Lumford Mill on the River Wye,and the Derwent Valley Mills and World Heritage Site.
The chosen theme for this year's special displays at the Old House is Cotton, again highlighting the role played by this area of Derbyshire in its manufacture. Beautiful items of clothing, now free from the threat of carpet beetle, will be on display until November.
