Knitting the past and future at Nottinghamshire Museum

East Midlands MEP Emma McClarkin visited the Framework Knitters Museum in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire last Friday.

The local politician visited them following her support and help in directing them towards the European Award they won for their interactive video about the history of the knitters and the Luddites, which helps develop a discussion between schoolchildren about issues of criminal damage, rioting, violent crime and civic responsibility.

The video, which is available free to all schools in the country, was also a major factor in the museum being awarded the prestigious Sandford Award for Education in Museums.

Miss McClarkin, like all visitors, had a go at knitting on a 19th Century Stocking knitting machine and had a demonstration of a Knitting Frame, invented in Nottinghamshire in 1589. Afterwards, she experienced the living conditions of Framework Knitters in the Museum’s cottages, within the only remaining Knitters’ Yard left in its original form.

Miss McClarkin said:

“What a great discovery here in Ruddington! The Museum provides an important educational experience for children about the knitters and the Luddites, and I’m very pleased to have been able to help them. Far from being stuck in the past, this little museum is looking to the future and using technology to make them more interactive. It is well worth a visit as is their great knitters shop. ”

Museum Trustee, Julian Ellis, said:

“It was a great pleasure to be able to welcome Emma and have the opportunity to thank her for her past help, as well as receiving her offer of assistance in seeking European Funding for our museum development programme.”