Threads of us

A new immersive heritage project created by One to One Development Trust in partnership with Wakefield Libraries, with support from The Space.

Inspired by a real-life love story that began on the factory floor of the former Rutland Mills now Tileyard, Threads of Us will explore the rich heritage of textile mills across the Wakefield district.

Working with former mill workers and local communities, we’ll gather memories, experiences and personal stories reflecting what life in the mills was really like. These shared histories will help shape a beautiful short Virtual Reality experience that brings the mills back to life, not only as places of industrial labour, but as places where friendships formed, cultures met and relationships began.

The finished experience will invite audiences to step into the world of Wakefield’s textile mills and discover stories of work, love, migration, class and belonging. Alongside the VR experience, an accessible interactive version will enable more people to explore the story through library touchscreens and online.

Over the coming months, we’ll be inviting people who worked in Wakefield’s mills, or whose families have memories, photographs or stories connected to them, to get involved.