About Us
Find out how a family brand became a global story. A remarkable journey with over 100,000 objects to explore from fossils to factory machines covering 200 years of shoemaking history.
About Shoemakers Museum
Shoemakers Museum is a brand new visitor experience which opened to the public in September 2025. A family-friend attraction that celebrates 200 years of shoemaking history through the eyes of the shoemakers, telling the stories behind Clarks shoes in the place where it all began in Street, Somerset.
Discover a remarkable collection of over 100,000 objects, highlights of which will be on display in the museum’s four galleries: Welcome to Street, Making shoes, Selling and buying, and Fossils.
Most people will have a memory of their favourite shoes and Shoemakers Museum is a new destination for visitors to meet the makers and celebrate and share their stories.
Discover the history of Clarks shoes
Somerset was once the largest producer of footwear in Britain and the Quaker family business Clarks was at the forefront. The first Brown Petersberg slippers were created in Street in 1825. Over the decades C&J Clark factories grew in number and the footwear they produced became a feature of British culture from our first fitted shoes and daily work wear to the Northern Soul dancefloors of the 1960s and Britpop scene of the 90’s. Production moved outside of the UK as UK industry declined, however the headquarters remain in Street. Today the collections of the Alfred Gillett Trust tell a unique 200 year history of the Street-based business and its global impact.
History of Clarks in Street
The Alfred Gillett Trust
The Alfred Gillett Trust is a registered charity that cares for the Clark’s family collections and Quaker archives. In 2021 the Trust purchased the Clarks Shoes corporate collections of the creating a unique archive of British business history. After many years of preparation planning permission was granted for a museum in 2023. Shoemakers Museum has been created and will open to the public in September 2025 making these unique collections public.
Awards for Shoemakers Museum
Shoemakers Museum, launched as a new tourist experience in late 2025, is already attracting attention and recognition from audiences at home and overseas. In recent months, it has received widespread recognition across the architecture, museum, heritage and tourism sectors. The project was named Client of the Year at the Architects’ Journal 100 Awards and won both the Tourism and Leisure and Property of the Year categories at the Michelmores Property Awards. It was also shortlisted for three Brick Awards in the Sustainability, Public Building and Craftsmanship categories, as well as being named a finalist for Best Family Experience at the Muddy Stilettos Awards and Permanent Exhibition of the Year at the Museum + Heritage Awards. Internationally, Shoemakers Museum has been shortlisted for the prestigious European Museum Academy Luigi Micheletti Award, with the ceremony taking place later in 2026.
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Enjoy a visit to Shoemakers Museum and book your ticket today. The museum is open daily 10-4pm.
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What's new
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News
Anthony the Steam Engine – a Heritage Open Days tour
Ahead of this years’ Heritage Open Days tour of HQ we’re visiting Anthony the steam engine.
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News
Somerset Arts Weeks Festival at Shoemakers
Launching 19 Sept until 3 Oct enjoy Somerset Arts Weeks Festival ‘Cultural Connections’. Exhibitions, workshop and an installation that explores the cultural ties that shape Somerset, from Palaeolithic to Present, and across Human and Non-Human species.
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News
Autumn Museum and Archive tours
Shoemakers Museum ticket holders can get a fascinating insight into the collections with guided tours of the new museum and exclusive behind the scenes archive tours now available to book. Let our collections team be your guide into the stories behind the exhibitions.
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News
New Exhibition. Add your story. 12 shoes 12 stories
Do you have a pair of shoes with a story? Shoemakers Museum is searching for 12 special shoes for an exhibition. Get in touch before 24 Aug if you’ve got a pair to share.
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On permanent display
Visit the permanent exhibition
Support us
Can you help put the finishing touches to Shoemakers Museum? From developing our education services to creating our gardens and grounds your donation will help create an experience to remember.
Shoemakers Give a Little donation page