Sunday 13 September, 10:30am, 11:30am, 2pm and 3pm

Heritage Open Day: Courtroom Trial

Free, limited capacity so booking recommended

Our trial re-enactments in our Victorian Courtroom are one of the highlights of our paid museum ticket. For Heritage Open Day, we’re delighted to open one of our rarely seen spaces to the public – our beautiful Civil Courtroom – for a family-friendly mock trial.

In 1812, at the Nottingham Assizes, William Carnell and Joseph Maples were charged with burglary and entering a dwelling house, as well as for breaking stocking frames. At just 16 years old, Joseph Maples was one of the youngest people arrested for this offence.

Frame breaking occurred after the introduction of machinery known as stocking frames to the knitting industry left many skilled workers facing unemployment. The lack of support from industry and government resulted in many workers taking direct action and smashing stocking frames in protest.

This Heritage Open Day, take part in an interactive re-enactment of Maple’s trial, and find out for yourself how skilled labourers took the threat to their livelihood into their own hands – and how the justice system treated them.

The image is for illustrative purposes only.

Book tickets - 10.30am
Book tickets - 11.30am 
Book tickets - 2pm
Book tickets - 3pm