The National Fork Truck Heritage Centre.

 

It is the only museum in the world that is dedicated to the display and history of the forklift truck. The Centre was established in 2006 to record and explain how forklift trucks have evolved over the years and in particular how this has affected the machines safety and design. Some eighty plus trucks are held at this time and include machines that can lift from as little as half a ton to others that can lift up to nine tons in weight. The archives hold information on no fewer than 170 manufacturers worldwide from 1917 to date and hold in excess of half a million references relating to the materials handling industry.  

 

The Official Opening

In October 2006, the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire John Bather declared the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre officially open. Since the opening there are now many visitors, who in their day to day life would not have set eyes on a forklift truck, realising the important part that these machines play in our daily lives. James Brindley has already had to extend the opening hours because of the museum's great success. Retired engineers and former forklift technicians are welcome to Contact Jim Brindley as there is plenty of room for associates to help with the Museum in many ways.

 

Another Museum

Close by, on an adjacent site, there is another museum that houses a large collection of stationary power engines. A group of volunteers, lead by the same director as the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre built this to celebrate a period in the past when discovery and invention was at its best. The collection covers the use of steam, oil and water engines that powered the many and diverse pieces of equipment in farming and engineering. After a short time this building was beginning to look too small to show off the many exhibits so it was decided to build an extention. This is now nearing completion and we look forward to not only adding to the exhibition space but also to installing a library and archive section.