Historic collections formerly on display for decades in Macclesfield's West Park Museum look set to be permanently relocated to the Silk Museum and the town hall.

The West Park Museum and the collections are owned by Cheshire East Council.

Many of the articles came from the international travels of members of the Macclesfield- based Brocklehurst family, whose wealth was made from silk manufacturing.

The collections also include military medals, plaster busts, 19th century paintings and items relating to law and order in the town.

In 2015 experts deemed the West Park Museum no longer fit for purpose because its environmental conditions were unsuitable and had subjected the collections to damaging factors.

There was also a lack of sanitary and educational facilities to accommodate school groups, volunteers and staff.

A report to next week's meeting of the economy and growth committee states: "Since being made aware of the deteriorating conditions in 2015, steps have been taken to protect the collections.

"This began with the most vulnerable items being relocated, predominantly the Egyptology collections and organic items. These were relocated to the Silk Museum."

A painting which forms part of the collection (Credit: Cheshire East Council)

In 2017, independent specialist consultants recommended the building be refurbished but this never happened due to lack of funding.

The report continues: "During this time, conditions at the museum have worsened and have caused further damage to collections including mould, rust and insect infestation."

In 2022 all remaining items from the collection were removed and either sent away for conservation work or relocated to the Silk Museum – leaving the building empty.

Cheshire East estimates it would now cost about £1.5m to upgrade West Park Museum so it was suitable to house the historic collections and 'this is not currently within the council's capital programme'.

So, next week, councillors are expected to agree the recommendation to permanently relocate the collections.

The report states: "The majority of the collections have already been successfully relocated, redisplayed and reinterpreted at the Silk Museum, in particular the Egyptology collection, and have been well received by visitors.

"Space in Macclesfield Town Hall has been identified to redisplay 10 paintings from the collection.

"The remainder of the collection can be displayed and reinterpreted at the Silk Museum. This work can be completed by the end of March 2025."

The 'Macclesfield Panda' was moved from West Park to the Silk Museum in 2023

A decision on the future of the West Park Museum building, which will be surplus to requirements of the cultural economy service if the recommendation is agreed, will be made at a later date.

The economy and growth committee meeting takes place at Crewe Municipal Buildings at 2pm on Tuesday, January 14.

Chair of the committee, councillor Michael Gorman, said: "As soon as it was clear that we could no longer store this important collection at West Park Museum, the urgent need was to safely preserve it elsewhere.

"This collection is very important, especially to residents of Macclesfield and its nearby towns and villages, so securing its long-term future locally is a priority.

"The entire collection has already been relocated to the Silk Museum – the Egyptology collection as an example is already being well received by visitors there. With West Park Museum sadly no longer fit for purpose, we had to make a decision on how the remaining items that were housed there were looked after."

John Varney, chair of the Silk Heritage Trust, added: "The Silk Heritage Trust is committed to protecting and celebrating the remarkable collections created by Marianne Brocklehurst, Mary Booth and others. Their story is important in showing how the wealth made from the silk industry helped bring to the town important Ancient Egyptian artefacts and fine art paintings."