Wigston Framework Knitters Museum
Just south of Leicester, this museum opened in 1986 in the house and workshop of a master hosier. The frame shop behind the house, built in 1891, was locked up after the last master hosier, Edgar Carter, died in the early 1950s, leaving a rare snapshot of a working life. It holds hand frames and a long bobbin-winding machine.
The Framework Knitters Museum, Ruddington
In Nottinghamshire, this independent working museum opened in 1971 in a courtyard of buildings that date back to 1829. It has many frames, some still working, and visitors can sometimes have a go.
Before you go
Both museums are run with the help of volunteers and opening times vary by season, so check their websites first.
Make it a heritage weekend
- Start in Leicester with our hosiery heritage guide and walk past the old factory buildings.
- Visit Wigston for the master hosier’s workshop.
- Head to Ruddington, south of Nottingham, to see frames working.
- Finish with a look at William Lee’s stocking frame, the invention that started it all.
What you will see at Wigston
The house and frame shop of a master hosier, with frames, a bobbin-winding machine and the everyday objects of a working family. Because the workshop was left as it was in the 1950s, it feels like stepping back in time.
What you will see at Ruddington
A set of 19th-century framework knitters’ cottages and workshops around a courtyard, with many frames and other machines. Demonstrations show how stockings were knitted and how the trade developed.
Tips for families and groups
- Check event days: demonstrations are the highlight.
- Ask about group bookings for schools and societies.
- Combine with a visit to Leicester or Nottingham city centres.
Make a day of it in Leicester
Combine a museum visit with a look at Leicester’s hosiery heritage in the city, and if you sew, call in to PK Sewing Machines on St Saviours Road (weekdays) for parts or a service.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
