MAKING HISTORY

The waterside Derby Silk Mill, widely regarded as the site of the world’s first factory, represents a precious piece of manufacturing heritage. Now rebuilt with the addition of a spectacular tripleheight glass atrium, it has itself been remade into the new Museum of Making, a showcase of 300 years of industrial innovation and a celebration of craftsmanship today. Its extensive collection includes 30,000 objects, while an earnest desire to support modern-day makers has seen the inclusion of a co-working space and workshop with specialist equipment. The hope is that this makers’ mecca will become a community hub and inspire the next generation, too (derbymuseums.org).