Framework Knitters Museum
Authentic Victorian knitting workshops where 400 years of textile heritage comes alive through original machines and immersive social history.
An award-winning living history museum in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, preserving the authentic Victorian-era working and living conditions of framework knitters. Explore restored workshops with original 19th-century knitting machines, period cottages, and interactive demonstrations. Discover the 400-year heritage of framework knitting—from its role in the Industrial Revolution to the Luddite riots—and try your hand at operating a historic sock machine. The museum features a café, textile shop, and enclosed gardens.
A brief summary to Framework Knitters Museum
- Chapel St, Nottingham, Ruddington, NG11 6HE, GB
- +441159846914
- Visit website
- Duration: 1.5 to 3.5 hours
- Budget
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Mixed
- Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
- Wednesday 11 am-4:30 pm
- Thursday 11 am-4:30 pm
- Friday 11 am-4:30 pm
- Saturday 11 am-4:30 pm
- Sunday 1:30 pm-4 pm
Local tips
- Plan for at least 2 hours to fully explore the workshops, cottages, and demonstrations. Many visitors stay longer than expected due to the engaging nature of the exhibits and volunteer interactions.
- Engage with the volunteer staff—they are exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about framework knitting history. Ask them questions about the machines, working conditions, and the Luddite movement.
- Visit on weekday mornings for fewer crowds and more opportunity for one-on-one interaction with guides and demonstrations. Weekends and afternoons tend to be busier.
- Wear comfortable shoes with good grip, as the cobbled driveway and period buildings have uneven surfaces. Note that some cottages and workshops have steep stairs.
- Don't miss the café—the homemade cakes and coffee are highly praised, and the garden seating provides a pleasant space to reflect on your visit.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Restrooms
- Drink Options
- Food Options
- Seating Areas
- Sheltered Areas
- Information Boards
- Visitor Center
Getting There
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By Car
From Nottingham city centre, take the A60 south towards Ruddington, approximately 6 miles. Follow signs for Ruddington village centre. The museum is located on Chapel Street in the heart of Ruddington. There is no dedicated museum car park; parking is available at the nearby Co-Op car park and on surrounding streets. Journey time is approximately 15–20 minutes from Nottingham centre depending on traffic.
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By Bus
Nottingham City Transport operates regular bus services to Ruddington from Nottingham city centre, with routes 1 and 3 serving the village. Journey time is approximately 30–40 minutes depending on the route and traffic conditions. Buses stop within walking distance of the museum on Chapel Street. Single fares are typically £2–3; day tickets offer better value for multiple journeys.
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By Train and Bus
Take a train from Nottingham railway station to Beeston station (approximately 10 minutes). From Beeston, connect to bus services that serve Ruddington (approximately 15–20 minutes). Total journey time is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. This option is useful if you're visiting from outside the immediate Nottingham area.
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On Foot
If staying in Ruddington village centre, the museum is within walking distance of most accommodation and village amenities. The walk from Ruddington village high street to Chapel Street is approximately 10–15 minutes on level terrain with paved footpaths. The cobbled driveway entrance is accessible from the main road.
Framework Knitters Museum location weather suitability
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Any Weather
Discover more about Framework Knitters Museum
A Preserved Window into Victorian Craft and Industry
The Framework Knitters Museum stands as one of the few remaining places in Britain where the authentic living and working conditions of 19th-century textile workers have been meticulously preserved. Located in the heart of Ruddington, this award-winning museum occupies a unique surviving framework knitters' yard—a complete domestic and industrial complex that captures the sights, sounds, and even smells of Victorian-era craftsmanship. The site was rescued from demolition by the local community in 1971 and has since been lovingly restored as a living history museum operated by a charitable trust. The property itself tells a story spanning centuries. Originally built as a farmhouse in the 1690s, it underwent significant Victorian-era expansions that are still visible in its architecture today. Visitors enter via a cobbled driveway to the rear, immediately transported into a world of period authenticity. The museum's restoration has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, enabling comprehensive conservation work that maintains the integrity of this industrial heritage site.The Machines and the Craft
At the heart of the museum experience are the original framework knitting machines—some dating back 150 years—that once produced the hosiery and lace that made Nottinghamshire famous. The workshops contain multiple examples of these intricate mechanical devices, each representing a different stage or type of knitting production. Visitors can observe live demonstrations by knowledgeable volunteers who operate these machines with practiced skill, explaining the technical processes and the immense physical demands placed on workers who labored at these frames for long hours in cramped conditions. One of the museum's most engaging features is the opportunity to try your hand at operating a 19th-century circular knitting machine, creating your own souvenir in the process. This hands-on experience provides genuine insight into the skill and concentration required of framework knitters, many of whom were children or young adults working under harsh conditions for minimal wages. The collection spans 200 years of hosiery production, documenting the evolution of design, technique, and materials throughout the industrial era.Living Conditions and Social History
Beyond the workshops, the museum reveals the domestic reality of framework knitting families. Period cottages have been restored to show how workers and their families lived in close quarters, often with the workshop integrated into the home itself. The ground floor contains a meticulously recreated 1950s kitchen complete with a lidded bath, a Victorian parlour, and a dispatch room where home workers collected raw materials and returned finished pieces. These spaces illustrate not only the poverty and overcrowding that characterized the industry but also the resilience and ingenuity of the families who inhabited them. The museum does not shy away from the darker aspects of framework knitting history. Exhibits document the appalling working conditions that sparked the Luddite uprisings of the early 1800s—a pivotal moment when desperate workers destroyed machinery in protest against wage cuts and exploitative labor practices. This social context transforms the museum from a simple celebration of craft into a nuanced exploration of industrial struggle, economic inequality, and working-class resistance.Heritage and Innovation in Textile Production
Framework knitting was a revolutionary technology when it was invented in the 16th century, fundamentally transforming textile production from a purely hand-based craft into a mechanized industry. The museum traces this 400-year evolution, showing how innovations in machinery and technique shaped not only the local economy but the entire British textile industry. Visitors learn how framework knitting directly gave birth to the Nottingham lace industry—one of the region's most significant manufacturing sectors—and how the skills and infrastructure developed by knitters were adapted and expanded into lace production. The museum's collection includes exceptional artifacts such as an original Corah knitting machine dating to around 1820, once owned by Nathaniel Corah, the founding father of what became one of Nottinghamshire's largest hosiery manufacturers. These pieces of machinery and the stories attached to them demonstrate how individual craftspeople and entrepreneurs shaped industrial development and regional prosperity.Visitor Experience and Facilities
The museum offers a comprehensive visitor experience designed for all ages and abilities. Most of the museum is accessible on the ground floor, though some period cottages and workshops feature steep stairs. A small café located by reception serves coffee, tea, and homemade cakes, with both indoor and sheltered outdoor seating in the enclosed gardens—a peaceful retreat after exploring the exhibits. Parker's Yard, the museum's textile shop, stocks beautifully crafted goods and unique souvenirs related to knitting and textile heritage. Group visits and evening tours can be arranged throughout the year via email, making the museum suitable for educational visits, community groups, and special occasions. The museum's knowledgeable volunteer staff are renowned for their enthusiasm and detailed knowledge of framework knitting history, and they actively engage with visitors to enhance understanding and enjoyment of the exhibits. Photography for personal use is generally permitted, and the museum welcomes inquiries about accessibility requirements or special needs.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
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Location Audience
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