Lace making history on show online and in library

Artefacts from Nottingham's history of lace making will be accessible online as part of a new scheme.

Nottingham Central Library's collection of materials documenting the rise and fall of the industry in the city includes books, maps, photographs and first-hand accounts from lace workers.

Available through the website of LibraryOn, a programme supported by Arts Council England to improve libraries’ online presence, Nottingham City Council said it will "present an insightful snapshot into the rich history of Nottingham lace".

Visitors to the £10m library - which was opened by the cash-strapped council in November last year, two years later than planned - can also access materials at the site.

Tiina Hill, LibraryOn head of delivery at the British Library, said the "special project" will show "how Nottingham was shaped by the industrial revolution and became the centre of fine lace production".

"From the first-hand accounts of workers in the factories to photographs of Jardine’s lace machinery, this project highlights the role libraries play in recording local history and offers a fascinating insight into the social and economic impact of lace manufacturing over 400 years in Nottingham," she said.

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