Heritage
Heritage Talk: Historic Gardens of Nottinghamshire - Mansfield Library
This talk by garden historian Philip Jones draws on the wealth of gardening heritage remaining in t…
Published 13th May 2025
It’s hands-on history for all at Inspire’s annual heritage celebration, returning to Mansfield Central Library on Saturday 17 May, 10am – 2pm. Hands on Heritage brings a variety of fun and free activities from heritage groups and organisations across the county. This will be the twelfth year that Mansfield Central Library has hosted the event, and it promises a range of activities and attractions for all the family to enjoy.
Visitors can explore local and family history stalls, browse local history books for sale, explore pop-up museums, and view old Nottinghamshire photographs, maps and more. Get hands-on with fun crafts and activities for children, including a virtual reality coal mine courtesy of Nottinghamshire Mining Museum, and an opportunity to ‘dig for victory’ with Bassetlaw Museum. Other organisations taking part include the D. H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum, Nottingham City Council Museums: Newstead Abbey, and Nottinghamshire Bobbin Lace Society who will be offering the chance to have a go at the heritage craft.
Inspire will also be using this opportunity to mark the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day, introducing a range of Second World War exhibits and activities. The day will be accompanied by live 1940s inspired music by the Red Hot Band, and refreshments will be available to purchase on the mezzanine floor.
Nottinghamshire Archives will be in attendance, this year bringing exciting new technology whereby visitors can experience content through augmented reality. Their interactive map will also be making its debut outside of the Archives, giving visitors the opportunity to explore Nottinghamshire’s history and find out more about their historic surroundings. They will also be hosting a photo digitisation station, scanning photographs to be added to the Inspire Picture Archive – an online archive of images illustrating life in Nottinghamshire – as well as allowing visitors to try their hand at book binding under guidance from one of their conservators.
Try your hand at book binding, courtesy of Nottinghamshire Archives' conservation team.
This year will also see the debut of virtual reality (VR) content for Inspire through the ambitious new Digital Spaces programme, in association with Arts Council England, BFI, awarding National Lottery funding and The Space. This forward-thinking initiative will deliver an array of digital experiences in Mansfield, Worksop, Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Beeston over the coming weeks, bringing a National curated VR tour to comfortable library spaces. The tour, which begins at Hands on Heritage Day, will showcase a selection of titles including Wallace & Gromit in the Grand Getaway, The Philharmonia Virtual Orchestra’s Lark Ascending, and celebration of England’s northern landscape, Monoliths.
Be immersed in virtual reality films, suitable for ages 10+
"I am delighted by the return of Hands on Heritage, once again offering a fantastic range of activities to make history fun and accessible for all the family. It's always a priority of Inspire to showcase Nottinghamshire's vast heritage, and it is my hope that this event inspired residents and visitors alike to discover more"
Further information about Hands on Heritage can be found here.
