The Shoemakers Museum opens its doors in Street today, bringing 200 years of Clarks history roaring back to life in the heart of Somerset.

Built to mark the iconic shoemaker's bicentenary, the museum sits at the entrance to Clarks Village, blending a 16th-century manor house, a 17th-century barn and a striking new glass extension. Inside, four permanent galleries chart the journey from handmade slippers to global fashion powerhouse — packed with archive treasures, original artwork, and the voices of generations who worked on the factory floor.

"This is a museum about people – their craft, their community and the shoes that became part of life's biggest milestones," said Rosie Martin, Director of the Shoemakers Museum. "Whether you remember your first Clarks or you're discovering their story for the first time, we can't wait to welcome you."

The museum is the only place in the world where the full story of Clarks is told. Visitors can step into atmospheric recreations of 1950s and 1980s shops, see the tools and machines that shaped millions of soles, and hear personal memories from the people who made it all happen. From school shoes to desert boots, Britpop icons to Jamaican Rude Boys, the story stretches far beyond Street.

This year marks Clarks' 200th anniversary, and the museum's collection features shoes from nearly every decade of the company's history — from early handmade slippers to the mass-produced icons that walked across playgrounds, stages and streets across the globe.

"The hardest part of curating the displays was deciding what to display," said Nicky Dowding, the museum's collections manager. "There are so many items, and so many stories in the collection that what's on display is probably around five per cent of the whole collection."

And yes — the foot measuring machine is in there, and maybe even the same sewing machine your mum used to use.

"We'll be collecting feedback from our visitors, and additional stories from the people who used to be a part of Clarks," Dowding added. "There's an almost endless collection of stories out there, told across the decades, so the museum will be constantly evolving. We want to keep on telling the Clarks story."

Cato Pedder, Chair of the Alfred Gillett Trust, said: "The museum stands not just as a tribute to the Clark family legacy, but as a platform for future generations to explore creativity, community and cultural identity – through the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other."

Beneath the museum lies a surprise twist — an internationally important fossil collection featuring marine reptiles uncovered under the Clarks factory site. A reminder that the ground beneath Street has always had stories to tell.

The Shoemakers Museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, 361 days a year. Tickets start at £5 and are valid for unlimited visits all year. Group bookings, educational visits and behind-the-scenes tours are also available. Tickets are on sale now at shoemakersmuseum.org.uk.

The museum café, which opened earlier this week, serves locally sourced light lunches, cakes and coffee, all made within 35 miles. Entry to the walled garden and orchard is free for museum visitors, and parking is complimentary with a ticket.

It's a powerful tribute to the company that built Street — and the community that built Clarks.

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• Major revamp of Glastonbury's historic Baily's Buildings gets underway
• Housebuilder launches new £10,000 community fund

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