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During the year we hold a Live Action Working Day with a selection of exhibits, steam-powered or not, hard at work.

You can see our extensive collection of working static and portable engines, and if you are lucky, you might be able to see the magnificent Basford Beam Engine in steam. Keep your eyes (and ears open) for one of our two grand Fowler Ploughing Engines that may be out and about in full steam in the yard. You can’t miss its piercing whistle!

These huge traction engines were the last two made by John Fowler & Co Engineers of Hunslet, Leeds. Farmers used two engines like these to drag ploughs across fields reducing dramatically the time taken to plough a field. Our engines enjoyed a different role and ended their working days ploughing in treated sewage at a large dairy farm at Stoke Bardolph.

Our Fowler Ploughing Engine (photo courtesy of Coal Fired Media)

In addition to these two giants of steam, many more steam and diesel engines work during the day. One is a vertical compound steam engine (perhaps you can help us identify it?) driving a dynamo built by Siemens Brothers Dynamo Works Ltd in Stafford. Several of our small portable engines will be working. These 1-5 horsepower engines powered by steam, petrol or oil, provided farmers with much-needed assistance. We also have several vintage tractors in our collection.

Add to this the many other exhibits in our museum galleries, and there is plenty for everyone in the family to see and do. Children can draw pictures for our monthly art competition, and we have trails for those who like to find our secret items. We often have object handling sessions and demonstrations, for example of bobbin lace making or printing.

Volunteers work hard on our Working Days and to maintain the exhibits all year round. The museum is open every weekend and selected Bank Holidays but we can only have occasional Working Days due to the considerable costs involved. Your support allows Nottingham’s only industrial museum to celebrate the efforts of workers in the coal, textile, communications and engineering industries over the last 300 years. Please do visit and share the experience with us.

We welcome weekday private group tours - please contact us to arrange


Find us

In the Courtyard at Wollaton Hall and Deer Park.


Admission

  • Adult £4.00
  • Concession / Student £3.00
  • Accompanied children FREE
  • Special prices may apply for event days - please see event pages for details
  • See 'Opening Times and Entry Fees' for discounted entry terms and conditions

Payment by cash, debit and credit cards.

Nottingham Industrial Museum is a registered charity (Number: 1167388).
We depend on your generosity to keep the museum open.

Volunteers manage and operate Nottingham Industrial Museum. We provide excellent opportunities for personal development. Please support the museum with your time and skills.

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Contact us

Email: info@nottinghamindustrialmuseum.org.uk
We aim to respond to all emails within 7 days
Or head to our Contact Us page for more options

Nottingham Industrial Museum is a Registered Charity Number: 1167388
Limited Company by Guarantee: 09679802
Registered address: The Courtyard, Wollaton Hall And Deer Park, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, NG8 2AE

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