Shoemakers Museum unveiled in Somerset

The new Shoemakers Museum has today opened its doors to the public, celebrating 200 years of Clarks’ heritage in the village where the company began.

The new museum combines a 16th Century manor house, a 17th Century barn and a new playful brick intervention, housing four permanent galleries. Commissioned by the Alfred Gillett Trust, the museum brings together a vast collection of shoes, fossils, and industrial heritage into a purpose-built space that re-establishes a cultural and civic anchor for the town.

A building that tells its own story

Inside the Shoemakers Museum, four permanent galleries showcase highlights from a collection of over 25,000 shoes – from early sheepskin slippers to the brand’s iconic Desert Boots – alongside stories from generations of local shoemakers, as well as rare fossils found in the local area.

Clarks is renowned across the world for the distinctive look and style of its shoes, and the new Shoemakers Museum celebrates the community in which it started – Street, Somerset. The finished Shoemakers Museum carefully reconnects previously fragmented listed buildings within the site, creating a continuous public realm and revitalising Street’s ‘green heart’ after decades of factory and retail development.

The building’s brick detailing draws directly from the design language of Clarks, with patterns echoing perforations, pinked edges, and visible stitching. Sustainability was a priority throughout, with more than 70% of demolished materials reused on site and renewable energy systems powering the building.

As well as preserving the history of Clarks and the town of Street, the museum offers spaces for learning, community use, and cultural events, making it a new civic and cultural hub for Somerset.

visit the shoemakers museum

'Thoughtfully designed by Purcell, Shoemakers Museum is housed in a unique and beautiful building. The exterior is striking, whilst the interior provides the ideal home for our collections. We are delighted to be open to the public and to have the opportunity to share the story of 200 years of shoemaking with the world.'

– Rosie Martin, Director, Shoemakers Museum

'Our goal was to create a building that feels deeply rooted in its heritage while responding to an inspiring brief from a wonderful client team. The museum is conceived firstly as a place for the people of Street, that celebrates the enduring story of Clarks shoes and displays its legacy in a way that is joyful, authentic and engaging.'

– Alasdair Ferguson, Senior Architect, Purcell