Arts and crafts in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire (including Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, Nottingham and Rushcliffe ) is in the East Midlands of England. It has a population of around 997,000 and covers approximately 244,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire.
Nottinghamshire is famous for its association with the legend of Robin Hood, which helps to attract many tourists each year to locations such as Sherwood Forest. Nottingham is the county town and the cities attractions include Nottingham Castle Museum, which was built during the 17th century on the site of the earlier Medieval castle. It hosts a range of cultural events and along with artefacts from local history, displays collections of clothing, British and European paintings, glass, ceramics and silver. The Harley Gallery in Worksop houses a collection of artworks from previous centuries, as well as hosting events and exhibitions of work created by contemporary artists and craft makers. Performing arts venues in Nottinghamshire include the Nottingham Playhouse, Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham and the Lakeside Arts Centre, which has also hosted arts and crafts exhibitions and workshops.
Set among hundreds of acres of picturesque parkland and gardens, Wollaton Hall is an Elizabethan mansion built during the sixteenth century. It is also the location for the Nottingham Natural History Museum, the cities Industrial Museum and the Yard Gallery, where art exhibitions are held. Visitors to the Framework Knitters Museum can see cottages and workshops which have been restored to show how textile workers would have lived and worked during previous centuries. There are demonstrations of Victorian knitting machinery and a collection of knitted items on show. Other attractions in Nottinghamshire include Sherwood Forest Art and Craft Centre, Upton Hall, which has a collection of antique clocks and watches, Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery, the ruins of Newark Castle, Southwell Minster and the Attenborough Nature Reserve.
