In this list of museums in Cheshire, England, museums are defined as institutions (including non-profit organisations, government entities and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific or historical interest, and that make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit art galleries and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (virtual museums) are not included.
Many Cheshire museums focus on the area's industrial heritage, including Quarry Bank Mill in Styal and Clarence Mill in Bollington (cotton), the Macclesfield Museums (silk), the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Widnes (chemicals), and the Lion Salt Works in Marston and Weaver Hall Museum in Northwich (salt). The Anson Engine Museum in Poynton is on the site of a former colliery. Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, on the site of the observatory in Lower Withington, explores astronomy. There are also several transport museums, including the Crewe Heritage Centre (railways), the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port and the Anderton Boat Lift (canals). There are water-powered mills at Bunbury, Nether Alderley and Stretton.
The cities of Chester and Warrington each have a combined museum and art gallery, and the towns of Congleton and Nantwich have local museums. Norton Priory is the remains of an Augustinian abbey, and Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum documents the Primitive Methodist movement. Historic house museums are also represented in the county, including Little Moreton Hall and Lyme Park. Cheshire Military Museum in Chester Castle covers the county's regimental history, and RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre and Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker explore more recent military history. The Museum of Policing in Warrington documents Cheshire's police forces.
Museums and galleries
Name Image Location Type Summary Refs Adlington Hall Adlington Historic house Country house dating in part from the 15th century, with gardens Anderton Boat Lift Anderton Transportation Boat lift and visitor centre for the meeting of the River Weaver and Trent and Mersey Canal Anson Engine Museum Poynton Technology Collection of stationary engines, blacksmith's smithy and carpentry shop; housed on the site of a former colliery Arley Hall Arley Historic house Early Victorian Jacobethan mansion (1833–41) and chapel, with formal gardens and farm Bollington Discovery Centre Bollington Industry Local cotton industry, located in Clarence Mill; also canals, local history and art Beeston Castle Beeston Castle Ruined 12th Century castle with museum Bunbury Mill Bunbury Mill Restored mid-19th-century water-powered mill; also wildlife pool Capesthorne Hall Siddington Historic house Jacobean-style house, Georgian Chapel, gardens, parkland Catalyst Science Discovery Centre Widnes Science Chemistry, history of the chemical industry Cheshire Military Museum Chester Military History of Cheshire's regiments, located in the former barracks at Chester Castle Congleton Museum Congleton Local Local history Congleton Museum website Crewe Heritage Centre Crewe Railway and Local Trains, locomotives, signal boxes, miniature railways; located on the site of the Crewe Locomotive Works Dewa Roman Experience Chester History Roman British artifacts, reconstructed Roman legionary fortress buildings Dorfold Hall Acton Historic house Jacobean house, gardens, woodland Dunham Massey Hall Dunham Massey Historic House Grade I listed historic house with extensive gardens and grounds Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum Englesea-Brook Religious History of the 19th century working-class religious movement of Primitive Methodism Gawsworth Old Hall Gawsworth Historic house Black-and-white timber-framed manor house Grosvenor Museum Chester Multiple Roman heritage, art, musical instruments, natural history, Victorian parlour, local history Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker Hack Green Military Former government-owned nuclear bunker with Cold War and military exhibits Hadlow Road railway station Willaston Railway museum Recreation of the station office on the day the station closed, located on the Wirral Way Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre Lower Withington Science Lovell radio telescope, planet and space exhibitions, orrery, Solar System model, aboretum Lion Salt Works Marston Industry Working open-pan salt works and museum, with rebuilt stove house, salt pan, smithy, engine house and brine tank Little Moreton Hall Congleton Historic house Moated 15th-century half-timbered manor house; operated by the National Trust Lyme Park Disley Historic house Mansion house with furnished rooms including tapestries and the Lyme Caxton Missal; formal gardens and deer park; operated by the National Trust Macclesfield Museums Macclesfield Industry Four museums about the local silk industry, including the Silk Museum on Park Lane, Paradise Mill, Heritage Centre, and the West Park Museum Nantwich Museum Nantwich Local Local history including Cheshire's role in the Civil War, local salt, cheese, clothing, shoe and clock-making industries, and art National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port Transport Canal boats, history of the canals Nether Alderley Mill Nether Alderley Mill Victorian water-powered corn mill; operated by the National Trust Norton Priory Museum Runcorn Religious 12–16th-century abbey and 18th-century country house with ruins, archaeological artifacts and medieval history Peover Hall Peover Superior Historic house Grade II* listed Elizabethan brick house dating from 1585 and 18th-century landscaped park Quarry Bank Mill Styal Industry Former cotton mill and textile museum; operated by the National Trust RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre Burtonwood Military Site of former US air base, with exhibits on life at the base as well as aeroplanes and engines Rode Hall and Gardens Congleton Historic house Grade II* listed Georgian country house and gardens Stretton Watermill Stretton Mill Working water mill, first recorded in 1351 Tabley House Knutsford Historic house 18th-century Grade I listed house with fine art and furniture collection Tatton Hall Knutsford Historic house Part of Tatton Park, early 19th-century house with collections of pictures, books, china, glass, silver and Gillows furniture; operated by the National Trust The Museum of Policing in Cheshire Warrington Law enforcement Includes murder weapons, forgeries, pigeon carriers, uniforms, a Doctor Who police box, photographs and records Warrington Museum & Art Gallery Warrington Multiple Natural history, local history, archaeology, fine art, decorative arts Weaver Hall Museum Northwich Multiple History of salt making, local history, archaeology
Defunct museums and galleries Axis Arts Centre, Crewe (formerly Alsager Arts Centre), included an art gallery, closed in spring 2019 Chester Toy and Doll Museum, Chester Mouldsworth Motor Museum, Mouldsworth, website, closed in 2013BBC News: Motoring museum is set to close (accessed 16 January 2013) On The Air: Broadcasting Museum, Chester, closed in 2000
References
External links Museums and galleries at the official Cheshire Tourist Board website
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