BRITAIN’S only carpet museum is closing down — finally floored by a lack of visitors.
It attracted coachloads of fans and school groups when it opened in 2012 and became a cult hit online.
But the underlaying — sorry, underlying — problem was simply that not enough people were ready to pile in and visitor numbers shrank to six a day.
The Museum of Carpet was set up in an 18th century mill in Kidderminster, Worcs — once regarded as Britain’s carpet capital. It charged £6 for adults and £17 for families to see samples dating back 300 years.
It had a four-star rating on TripAdvisor with some describing it as “an absolute gem”.
Bosses even posted a tongue-in-cheek video of Take That singer Gary Barlow describing it as a “very nice day out”.
However, Carpet Museum Trust chief Geoffrey Gilbert said: “In the last four or five years we have really struggled.
“Running costs come to about £100,000 for the year but generating income to match that has been very difficult.”
Doors will close for the last time on December 20, with the trust continuing to look after the collection.
A visitor said: “It’s a pity to lose it. It kept the history of the town’s industry alive for the younger generation.”
But one person joked online: “It was only a matter of time before the rug was pulled from beneath them.”
Another added: “Enjoyed my first shag pile in there when I was younger. Special place.”
