A major new museum opened its doors in Street, Somerset last month giving visitors an unprecedented journey through two centuries of British shoemaking history.
The Shoemakers Museum, a project of the Alfred Gillett Trust (who curate Clarks historic legacy), marks the bicentenary of Clarks with a blend of social history, design heritage and architectural innovation.
The buildings are a significant achievement in heritage adaptation, combining a 16th-century manor house, a 17th-century barn with a striking contemporary extension by Purcell Architecture.
The new brick-and-timber structure was constructed in just six weeks to create a column-free gallery space for modern museum displays.
With 31,000 shoes, 500 shoemaking machines and extensive archives, the Alfred Gillett collections tell the story of how a small Quaker business became a global fashion force.
Quadrophenia reimagined the story of the original Mods and sparked a 70s revival, with Clarks desert boots to the fore.
Four permanent galleries trace Clarks' evolution from staid UK institution to international brand, worn by everyone from Jamaican Rude Boys to Britpop icons.
Immersive installations recreate 1950s and 1980s shops, production lines and the iconic foot-measuring gauges that were a childhood rite of passage for generations.
Director Rosie Martin emphasises the human dimension: "This is a museum about people – their craft, their community and the shoes that became part of life's biggest milestones."
Oral histories from former factory workers give their perspective on industrial life. The advertising archives and fashion photography show Clarks' cultural impact.
There is an unexpected highlight underneath visitors' feet: internationally significant marine reptile fossils unearthed during Victorian factory construction partly by Alfred Gillett himself.
A dedicated fossil gallery is already planned.
The development is sustainable, with Passivhaus design principles, air-source heat pumps and photovoltaics generating 100 percent of peak energy needs. Seventy percent of suppliers came from within 25 miles, and the café sources ingredients from a 35-mile radius.
The museum will open 361 days yearly.
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