Derwent Pencil Museum prepares to write new chapter in larger premises 

The Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick will begin a new chapter this autumn when it relocates to a larger premises closer to the town centre. 

The Lake District attraction has announced that it is moving to Rawnsley Hall, a short walk away from its current home in Southey Works.  

The museum’s new premises was built in 1898 as part of Keswick School and more recently used by the Keswick Convention, an annual gathering of evangelical Christians in Cumbria.  

The museum says the move will create space to grow its exhibitions, enhance visitor experiences and “inspire future generations of artists and pencil lovers”.  

A statement announcing the moving said: “The relocation is all about the future. The new space will provide greater flexibility to develop displays and support expanded collections over time.” 

The statement added that “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”. 

Established in 1981, the museum is dedicated to the history of pencils and the heritage of the Derwent brand. Up to 60,000 visitors a year come to see its unique exhibits, including one of the world’s largest colouring pencils, which almost eight metres long, rare pencils from the second world war featuring hidden maps, royal commemorative pieces, and intricate miniature pencil sculptures.  

The popular museum has appeared in TV shows such as ITV’s This Morning, Ricky and Ralf’s Very Northern Road Trip and BBC’s The Claudia Winkleman Show.  

The museum will close in its current location on 1 November and reopen in its new home in March 2027.  The four-month closure will allow the museum team to carefully move exhibits and prepare the new space ahead of its opening.

“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 Strong, the manager of Derwent Pencil Museum.  

“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.” 

“We may be changing location, but the Derwent Pencil Museum’s character, collections and stories are coming with us,” Strong added. “We’ll also be sharing memories and highlights from our current home as we prepare for the move.”