Kidderminster museum dedicated to heritage of carpet making 'excited' to be back for initial short period
The Museum of Carpet has temporarily returned and opened its doors for four days across this February half-term after closing in December 2025
A 'unique' museum in Worcestershire which shut at the end of last year has said it has seen a "massive response" to it opening back up again for a few days.
Labelled as the "only Museum in the UK dedicated to celebrating the heritage, art and industry of carpet making", the Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster announced in November last year it would be closing on the 20 December.
It said in a press release at the time a "combination of rising energy prices, maintenance costs, loss of tenants and reduced footfall" had made it "unsustainable to continue operations at its present site".
After a meeting in January between trustees and volunteers to discuss options for the museum this year, it revealed it would open for four days this February half-term, starting on the 14th, before covering the 17th, 19th and 21st.
Chair of the Carpet Museum Trust's board of trustees, Geoffrey Gilbert, said: "It’s been quite exciting for us to be able to get going again.
“This is really (about) trying to keep people aware of the museum and keep up the level of support for it.
“We had a massive response on Saturday (14 February), we had 180 or so people come in which is about the same as we had on the last day we were open in 2025.”
On future plans, he added: "“Once this week is over we will have a board of trustees meeting and then decide how we will open for the rest of the year."
As part of its 2026–2029 budget proposals, Wyre Forest District Council’s cabinet has recommended a one‑off transformation grant of £25,000 a year for two years to support the development of a new business model for the museum.
It states the funding would aim to help the Museum of Carpet "evolve into a strengthened heritage organisation with a secure future".
The recommendation is to be considered at a full council meeting on the 25 February.