Derwent Pencil Museum, the home of the first pencil and the Cumberland Pencil Company, manufacturers of Derwent ‘pencil-perfection’ since 1832. The team have been manufacturing pencils in the Lake District for over 150 years; packing years of experience and expertise into every product produced.
Visitors enter the museum through a replica of the Seathwaite mine, where graphite was first discovered in the 1550s. Through words, pictures, and carefully restored machinery, you can trace the history of pencil-making, and see how they continue to make Derwent Fine Art pencils today. You can also discover their secret WW2 pencils with hidden maps, and see one of the largest colour pencils in the world measuring almost 8 meters!
Other facilities include:
- Derwent Gift Shop (also available online)
- Coffee Shop
- Free Wi-Fi
- Baby changing facilities
Enjoy coffee, cake, and light bites at the Derwent Artisan Café. Reviews say that ‘the lemon posset is to die for’, and that the coffee is some of the best around. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a menu online.
The Pencil Museum is perfect for families visiting Keswick and the Lake District with children, or anyone interested in learning more about a niche little bit of history. For Bond fans, the spy pens are real, and you can learn all about them in the museum!
Though, these ones don’t explode… we hope.
AT A GLANCE
Booking: Tickets can only be purchased on site, but you can view the full pricing details on their website.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome in the museum on leads, and in the outdoor seating area of the café.
Seating: Indoor and outdoor seating available in the café.
