The museums are owned by Cheshire East, the local council, and are managed on their behalf by the Macclesfield Silk Heritage Trust.
The building was originally known as the Macclesfield School of Art and opened in 1877 to train designers for the silk trade.
[5] West Park Museum was built by Marianne Brocklehurst, who came from a wealthy silk trade family, and houses her collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, a selection of fine art, and local history items.
[8] The building, in West Park, is Grade II listed with Historic England.
The building now has multiple uses which include a Museum with Victorian school room and a cinema.