Derwent Pencil Museum
Opening Hours
About
This museum explores the history of pencil manufacturing in Keswick, from the discovery of local graphite to modern production. The working pencil factory sits behind the museum, still in operation today. Displays cover the evolution of pencils, including their role in wartime and the black market, with exhibits on manufacturing techniques and historic tools like compass pencils. A quiz encourages visitors to engage with the information panels, while colouring sheets provide a hands-on element. The collection showcases a wide variety of pencils and art supplies, highlighting the area’s long connection to the industry.
Customer Reviews
A small, themed museum in the traditional museum style of exhibits and information panels. There was not a lot of interactivity for children. However there was an excellent quiz, and some area for colouring sheets and using pencil and drawing skills. The museum plots the history of pencil making from the 16th century, originally in this Lakeland area. It’s informative and interesting, with some quirky exhibits like a secret agent’s pencil with hidden map and compass. The staff are very welcoming and friendly. There’s a small cafe (although it was understaffed to the point of having reduced menu - no food only cakes, when we were there. ♿️The museum is all on one level and easily accessible throughout. Very reasonably priced, with a free pencil and quiz sheet (with a prize) on admission.
This museum is not what I expected. It’s mostly educational, but it does not have many interactive projects or visual demonstrations. I appreciate how many different pencils they have displayed, as well as the various merchandise and products related to the pencil-making process that were shown. They also have a few colored pencil artworks exhibited on the wall, which are quite extraordinary. However, I think they could have hired a few more employees, presented the visitors with the process of making penciled in pencils, and let us try to make pencils ourselves. Just seeing different materials for pencil making is not enough for visitors to imagine how pencils were born. Additionally, their art shop is quite good, although all their products say they are on discount but they are actually overpriced.
You say to people that you're visiting a pencil museum and they look at you confused. But I've loved it here since I was a child and will defend it to the death! We enjoyed doing the quiz as it actually makes you read the displays and information which I can be guilty of skipping in most museums. You get a prize at the end so it's worth it! One item you had to look for was hidden so well in plain sight that we'd watched 3 videos before realising the item we needed was right next to us! I spent far too much at the gift shop but don't regret it!
