Inspire gets Hands On with Heritage in 2023!

Saturday 12 May saw Mansfield Central Library taken over by free and fun activities and attractions for all ages to get hands on with heritage!

This was the tenth year that Mansfield had hosted this event (formerly called the Local History Fair) which is the annual highlight of Inspire’s heritage calendar. 2023 also marks 60 years since The Beatles performed in Mansfield at The Granada on West Gate, just a few steps away from where the library is now situated. Inspire Choir, Inspire Music, and Inspire Youth Arts musicians celebrated the occasion with Beatles-inspired music performances throughout the event.

Inspire welcomed over 900 visitors through the doors on the day, as well as a variety of local heritage organisations from across the county who showcased their exciting activities and attractions. University of Nottingham Museum of Archaeology delighted young visitors with their archaeology activity, inviting visitors to dig a trench to find artefacts, as well as bringing along a typography activity. Bassetlaw Museum transported customers back to Anglo-Saxon times with traditional costumes and objects. Inspire’s very own Nottinghamshire Archives taught us how to write with a quill pen and visitors enjoyed fascinating conservation demonstrations.

Mrs Cooper the Victorian housekeeper from Newstead Abbey was in attendance in traditional dress chatting to customers about life at the Abbey and encouraging us to decipher Victorian handwriting. The event also saw the return of the popular virtual reality coal mine activity with Nottinghamshire Mining Museum. Mansfield Library team kept customers busy with a quiz treasure hunt around the library, craft activities and a book sale. Keep an eye on MansfieldLibrary’s Facebook Page for news of the quiz winner!

Other organisations and activities included Mansfield Fire Museum, Miner2Major, Inspire Learning, Nottingham Women’s History Group, The Old Mansfield Society, Nottinghamshire Gardens Trust and many more.

Thank you to everyone who joined Hands On Heritage Day 2023! Catch up on all the action in the image gallery below.