Arts and crafts in Cheshire
Cheshire (including Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington) is in the North West of England. It has a population of around 1,028,000 and covers approximately 234,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: Derbyshire, Flintshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Wrexham.
Although the service and technology sectors have grown in Cheshire, it is a predominantly rural county and its famous Cheshire cheese, is considered to be the oldest cheese referred to by name in Britain. The county town of Cheshire is Chester, an historic city which is notable for its medieval city walls and Roman remains, such as the amphitheatre, hypocaust and a Shrine to Minerva, goddess of wisdom, arts and crafts. The Grosvenor Museum in Chester has collections drawn from local history, including costumes, furniture, coins, ceramics, glass, silver, toys and fine art, as well as being the venue for a programme of exhibitions and events. Visiting the heritage site of Quarry Bank Mill in Wilmslow, a preserved textile mill that has become a museum, can provide an insight into the lives of the communities of people who once worked in the cotton industry. You could also visit Tatton Park, which includes the listed Tudor Old Hall and a neoclassical mansion, where you can see furniture, books, ceramics and paintings, or you could stroll around the estates beautifully designed gardens. Performing arts venues in Cheshire include the Altrincham Garrick, Clonter Theatre Opera in Congleton, Pyramid and Parr Hall in Warrington and Chester Music Theatre.
The Warrington Museum and Art Gallery is housed within a listed building and opened in the 1850s, making it one of the oldest museums in the UK. The collections include natural history, archaeology, photography, ceramics and fine art, including paintings by 19th and early 20th century artists and exhibitions of contemporary work by emerging as well as established artists. The museum exhibits include many that reflect local history and the lives of people who lived and worked in the area during previous centuries. Macclesfield once produced more finished silk than anywhere else in the world and today the towns four Silk Museums tell the story of the development of the silk industry. Paradise Mill was restored as a working heritage museum, with a number of Jacquard hand looms and visitors can watch demonstrations of skills such as silk throwing and weaving. There are also events held where contemporary textile artists and designers can exhibit their work, as well as courses teaching arts and crafts skills. Other attractions in Cheshire include Chester Cathedral, Dunham Massey Hall and Gardens, the remains of Beeston Castle, Walton Hall Gardens, and Little Moreton Hall a Tudor manor house near Congleton.
