The Silk Museum's inaugural Women's History Month programme provide to be a resounding success.

Throughout March, the Park Lane site was a hive of activity with hundreds of new and returning visitors enjoying a variety of exhibitions, talks and workshops designed to uncover the hidden stories of Macclesfield's women.

The overwhelmingly positive response to the programme has provided a clear blueprint for the museum's future development.

Museum director Dr Clare Harding said: "This has been such a fantastic month for the museum.

"The high visitor turnout and enthusiastic feedback prove there's a real appetite for this kind of local storytelling and diverse programming.

"The insights we've gained will be vital for our future planning as we look to deliver even more events like this."  

The Women's History Month programme was born directly from public feedback.

Education co-ordinator Natalie Lane explained: "Our consultation last year showed us that people wanted more community-focused events and real stories about everyday local figures.

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"We took that on board used the feedback to shape this programme."

The museum welcomed hundreds of new and returning visitors throughout March (Credit: Silk Museum)

Throughout the month, visitors were able to explore over 30 unique events including three special exhibitions - 'The Three Annies', produced by the museum's volunteer researchers, the History Hunters; 'Jacquard'; and 'Unravelling in Paradise: Aimee Spilsted'. 

Meanwhile, over 70 people enjoyed special talks on a range of different subjects from The Women of The Macclesfield School of Art to Female Collectors and Tales of Women in Chemistry and Protest.

A further 80 people engaged in eight special guided tours. Four of these took place in Paradise Mill while the remainder took the form of walking tours, guiding visitors to unique and interesting sites around the town.  

In addition, there were seven hands-on workshops, where visitors were able to experiment with drawing, making zines, creating textile art, and Gelli plate printing.

There were even two special Museum Tots sessions where kids explored Macclesfield suffragists and the work of artists linked to the Art School. Families were also able to take part in a dedicated Museum Trail and drop-in for free craft activities inspired by the illustrations of Annie Sutton.

Plus, the museum delivered three school assemblies across Macclesfield, engaging pupils with the stories of inspiring local women including football legend Sue Whyatt and intrepid explorers Marianne Brocklehurst and Mary Booth.

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Yet more activities took place around the town, with a special screening of the film Suffragette at the Park Tavern and a poetry evening at the Cherry Blossom Bakery.

READ MORE: Silk Museum's latest art exhibition aims to 'spark interest' in town's history

The Three Annies by the History Hunters (Credit: Silk Museum)

Natalie added: "It has been a real team effort, and I would like to say a huge thank you to all the museum volunteers, staff and artists who have made the month such a success.

"A real highlight was giving visitors the rare opportunity to see items from the collection that are normally kept behind locked doors.

"At various points, people were visibly moved or stunned by works of art from the Art School, beautiful historic clothing, and the intimate pages of Marianne Brocklehurst's diary."

Some elements of the programme continue, and visitors can still explore the Jacquard exhibition until Saturday, April 25.

The whole programme was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Macclesfield Town Council.

ALSO READ: Stepping back in time - My experience of the new self-guided tours at Paradise Mill

Dozens of people took part in guided tours (Credit: Silk Museum)

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