Industrial heritage

This project is examining the site of Nottingham’s former Raleigh factory, which is now the Jubilee Campus of The University of Nottingham.

Many older local residents in the surrounding suburbs had a connection to the factory through employment (either their own or that of a family member) while, as one of the most prolific producers of bicycles in the world, many of the current users of the site – which bears virtually no trace of its former use – will also have a connection through the ownership, at some stage of their lives, of a Raleigh bike.

The current use of the site as a focus for innovation and new technology continues the notion of Raleigh being at the forefront of new developments in cycling technology and design. This project seeks to research and celebrate the heritage of the site and to foster a conversation between those who inhabited the space in the past and those who inhabit it now, so that greater understanding of the nature of this space is created, allowing it to become used, enjoyed and understood by a wider cross section of the community.

To celebrate 125 years of Raleigh and innovation there was a series of events in partnership with community theatre company Hanby and Barrett. These included talks, discussions and films, with contributions by former Raleigh workers, bike historians and current Raleigh management.