Cumberland Pencil Museum

Visit Keswick, in the Lake District, the home of the first pencil, and the Cumberland Pencil Company, the home of pencil perfection since 1832.

Enter the Museum through a replica of the Seathwaite mine where graphite was first discovered 350 years ago. Through words, pictures and carefully restored machinery you can trace the history of pencil making and see how we make Derwent Fine Art pencils today. A quiz for children makes the whole visit an adventure and discovery. The video theatre shows two presentations, and be amazed at the Worlds Longest Pencil. Other displays demonstrate the uses of pencils, with helpful hints and tips for budding artists. There is a children's area where they can “have a go” with different pencils and crayons and a shop that sells the full range of Derwent pencils.

Opening Times: - 9.30am - 4pm Last admission 7 days a week
Closed 25th and 26th December and 1st January
Special rates for groups and coach parties

Free entry to:
- ‘The DERWENT Pencil Shop’, stocking the full range of Derwent Fine Art Pencils
- ‘Sketchers Coffee shop' where you can relax with a coffee and a lovely slice of one of our delicious cakes, and enjoy our free WIFI.

The Museum is an all weather activity for all the family,

Adults £4.25, Children £3.25, Concession £3.25 Family Ticket £11.75 (2 adults & 2 Children), under 5's free entry

Free hourly demonstrations with professionals pencil artists, suitable for people aged 13 - 93, starting this Spring.
March 12th & 13th - The UK's softest ever coloured pencil with Jo Goudie
March 19th & 20th - Spring delights of botanical illustration with Sue Vize
March 26th & 27th The English coastline in Watercolour and Inktense pencils with Tony Hogan
April 16th & 17th Botanical blooms in coloured pencils with Susan Christopher-Coulson
April 23rd & 24th Georgia O'Keefe flowers in watersoluable media with Sylvia Rawsthorn

We also run full day tuition workshops where you can spend a whole day with a professional artist using our famous Derwent pencils. For details of these workshops visit our what’s on pages on our website http://www.pencilmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/

Easter Holiday Events 2013

29th – 31st March
Free art & craft watercolour pencil demonstrations from 10am – 11am & 2pm – 3pm.
2nd – 4th April Family cartooning 10am - 4pm
Join local Cumbrian cartoonist Robin Evans over three days, where he will be demonstrating how to draw cartoons and set up storylines. Robin will be demonstrating with watersoluble pencils on enormous sheets of paper! He has BIG creative ideas to share and loves audience participation!
5th – 8th April
Free art & craft watercolour pencil demonstrations from 10am – 11am & 2pm – 3pm.
9th – 11th April Family cartooning 10am – 4pm
YouTube sensation Shoo Rayner will be demonstrating how to draw step-by-step cartoons. He has his own YouTube channel with 35,000 followers! Come and see Shoo in real life and be inspired and entertained by his creative craft!
12th – 14th April
Free art & craft watercolour pencil demonstrations from 10am – 11am & 2pm – 3pm.

Location

Only a short walk from Keswick town centre. Walk down the main street from the Tourist Information Centre following the fingerposts. Continue straight on, then turn right immediately prior to the road bridge over the River Greta. The Museum is on your left, just before the pencil factory.