shoemakers Museum
street, somerset
Opening September 2025
Opening in September 2025, Shoemakers Museum in Street, Somerset, will showcase the rich history of C. & J. Clark, the iconic footwear brand founded in the village. Housed within The Grange, a Grade II listed building, the museum will provide an engaging experience, exploring Clarks' legacy and its influence on both the local community and the wider world. Greenway Associates is the appointed Cost Consultant on this project.
Archivist Tim Crumplin holding the original Clarks shoe - the Brown Peterson
OUR ROLE
Jared Mensah, our museums expert, is the QS for the exhibition works at Shoemakers Museum. Jared relates: “I think it’s really cool to be involved with a project for such an old and well-known global brand. Clarks will be 200 years this year. It is a privilege to be part of the team helping to tell the story of this family-owned business and shape its future. We’re also delighted to be collaborating with Nissen Richards Studio, bringing their expertise in exhibition and museum design to this landmark project.”
© Nissen Richards Studio
© Nissen Richards Studio
EXHIBITION & FEATURES
The Shoemakers Museum houses the extensive collection of the Clarks family and their renowned footwear business. A specially designed archive safeguards The Alfred Gillett Trust’s vast holdings, which include more than 100,000 notable shoes, business records, and family documents. Spanning two centuries of shoemaking heritage, this remarkable collection showcases how Clarks transformed the Quaker village of Street into a globally recognised name. Shoemakers Museum is a brand new visitor attraction making these collections available to the public for the first time.
Some features of the Museum will include:
Street’s Story: The village’s legacy of innovation, from its role in education and social movements to its contributions to industries beyond shoemaking.
The Art of Shoemaking: Visitors can explore how Clarks' footwear has been crafted over the centuries, from handmade techniques to modern production methods. Interactive displays will offer hands-on experiences, including designing shoes and experimenting with the tools once used by factory workers.
Shops and Style: This exhibit will trace the evolution of Clarks' retail presence, recreating historic storefronts and showcasing the brand’s international influence, from the UK to global markets such as Jamaica and Japan.
Unearthing the Past: In addition to its shoemaking heritage, the museum will spotlight Street’s fascinating prehistoric history, featuring a remarkable collection of marine reptile fossils, including ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.
New entrance sign!
Scaffolding coming down
“It’s exciting to see the long-planned museum coming to life. A wide range of experts have helped this project become a reality. The renovation of our existing historic buildings and creation of a brand new purpose building, have created inspired new spaces for our galleries, education rooms, café, community and welcome areas. We can’t wait to open our doors to the public in September.”
THE DETAILS
Client: The Alfred Gillet Trust
Exhibition Designer: Nissen Richards Studio
Specialist Exhibition Cost Consultant: Greenway Associates
Status: Opening September 2025