Nottingham will host a weekend of events showcasing the city’s long history with lace as part of Lace:here:now, a season of exhibitions, talks, lace-making workshops and films which highlight the importance of lace to the city’s identity.

The Big Weekend will take place on 17 and 18 November at venues across Nottinghamshire and will include a unique opportunity for the public to view the UK’s biggest collection of machine-made lace, When a selection from Nottingham Trent University’s lace archive of over 75,000 items will go on display.

Other special events include a chance to view Nottingham City Museums and Galleries’ extensive lace collection at the historic Newstead Abbey, and a talk at Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery documenting the grittier side of the lace industry through the story of Robert Blincoe, a 19th Century child labourer, who spent many years working in Nottinghamshire mills.