Derby’s Pickford’s House has been transformed into a recreation of Croft Manor as the city marks the 30th anniversary of the Tomb Raider franchise. The exhibition, running at the museum until November, highlights the title’s local origins and charts the development of one of gaming’s most recognisable characters.
Derby roots of a global character
The archeologist-adventurer Lara Croft was conceived in the 1990s at a studio on 55 Ashbourne Road in Derby. The new displays bring together development artefacts and memorabilia to show how a project that began on a hard drive in the city grew into an international multimedia property.
Among the items on display is the original computer used to build the first Tomb Raider games, alongside artwork, promotional material and items that trace the character’s evolution from pixelated lead to Hollywood star. The exhibition’s layout has been designed to offer visitors a sense of Croft’s fictional home while also documenting the real-world production story that started locally.
What visitors can expect
- Original development hardware, including the computer used on the early games
- Artwork and design materials illustrating Lara Croft’s visual evolution
- Advertising and promotional items that show how the character was marketed globally
- A re-creation of Croft Manor within Pickford’s House
The show is timed to coincide with the franchise’s 30th anniversary and will remain open to the public until November. It provides an opportunity for local residents and visitors to connect with a notable piece of Derby’s creative and technological history.
Local impact and context
Game development in Derby during the 1990s contributed to the city’s profile in interactive entertainment. The Tomb Raider franchise’s emergence from a modest studio underscores how local talent and technology can have far-reaching cultural effects. For the museum, the exhibition presents a chance to attract audiences interested in gaming history, design and popular culture.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Pickford's House, Derby |
| Origin | Studio at 55 Ashbourne Road, 1990s |
| Exhibition period | Until November |
For those with an interest in the history of game design or the local creative economy, the exhibition offers a compact but informative look at how a Derby project shaped global popular culture. Advance tickets and visiting information are available from Pickford’s House and local listings.
