Derwent Pencil Museum announces exciting move to larger premises in Keswick
Derwent Pencil Museum announces exciting move to larger premises in Keswick
The Derwent Pencil Museum is preparing for an exciting new chapter as it announces plans to relocate to a new home in Keswick, Cumbria, reaffirming its longstanding connection to the town where the iconic Derwent brand was born.
Derwent is pleased to announce that the new location of the Derwent Pencil Museum will be Rawnsley Hall, a short walk from the current museum.
The move represents an investment in the museum’s longterm future, creating space to grow its exhibitions over time, enhance visitor experiences and inspire future generations of artists and pencil lovers.
Established in 1981, the Derwent Pencil Museum is a much-loved Lake District attraction, welcoming up to 60,000 visitors annually. Dedicated to the history of pencils and the heritage of the Derwent brand, the museum is home to unique exhibits including one of the world’s largest coloured pencils, rare WWII pencils with hidden maps, royal commemorative pieces and intricate miniature pencil sculptures.
The museum’s enduring appeal is reflected in appearances on a range of television programmes broadcasted in the UK, including ITV’s This Morning, Ricky & Ralf’s Very Northern Road Trip, and most recently BBC’s The Claudia Winkleman Show.
“We are proud to remain rooted in Keswick, the birthplace of the Derwent brand and a community that has supported us for many years,” said Tracy, Derwent Pencil Museum manager. “By moving closer to the town centre, into Rawnsley Hall, we are giving the museum a wonderful new home. Originally built in 1898, Rawnsley Hall served education for decades as part of Keswick School, making it the perfect location to continue our own tradition of learning and historical storytelling.”
Key Dates
- Current Pencil Museum closes: 1 November 2026
- New Pencil Museum opens: 1 March 2027
The temporary closure will allow the museum team to carefully move exhibits, prepare the new space and ensure everything is ready to welcome visitors to the new museum location, in March 2027.
Why the Move?
The relocation is all about the future. The new space will provide greater flexibility to develop displays and support expanded collections over time.
While the building will change, visitors can be reassured that the museum’s much loved exhibitions will remain at the heart of the visitor experience.
“We may be changing location, but the Derwent Pencil Museum’s character, collections and stories are coming with us,” Tracy added.
“We’ll also be sharing memories and highlights from our current home as we prepare for the move.”
Support the Museum’s move to Rawnsley Hall
The Derwent Pencil Museum encourages supporters, locals and visitors to spread the word about the move to Rawnsley Hall, and to pencil the 1 March 2027 in their calendars for the museum’s reopening.
Until then, the museum remains open and is welcoming visitors as normal until 1 November 2026.
Visitors are also invited to follow the move on social media for behind-the-scenes updates and key announcements on Instagram and Facebook @derwentmuseum and @derwentartofficial. More information can also be found at the Derwent Pencil Museum itself.
To stay updated on the Derwent Pencil Museum follow on social media:
Facebook: Derwent Pencil Museum
Instagram: @derwentmuseum
For further information on Derwent products, events and latest news please visit the Derwent Art website and follow on social media:
Facebook: Derwent Art
Instagram: @derwentartofficial
To learn more about what’s happening, follow Cumbria Guide on our social media
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