Listen and Explore

3D Immersive sound experience

We developed a unique online audio-visual experience in collaboration with the world-renowned Electro-Acoustic Research Lab (EARLab) at the University of Derby.

Staff and students took 3D measurements of the original acoustics of our Bonsall Framework Knitting Workshop, as well as making 3D recordings of historic framework knitting machines in action.

The fieldwork was carried out in July 2025, with the support from the University of Derby’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship Scheme, as a collaboration between the university’s engineering and history departments. Staff and students travelled to Kirby Muxloe for the purpose of seeing Martin Green’s framework knitting workshops. Martin is the last known commercial framework knitter in the UK.

While on site, the students first took 360 degree photos of eight of Martin’s machines, followed by 3D audio recordings of each machine while Martin operated them. After the recordings, the students interviewed Martin about his experience with framework knitting.

The recordings and images contained below are from this student project. You can view any of the eight machines and click and drag within these images to rotate the view. At the same time, you can select one or more of these machines to listen. The sounds you will hear are the 3D audio recordings of the machines with the original acoustics of the Bonsall Framework Knitting Workshop applied, giving you an idea what it may have sounded like in the workshop at its 19th century peak.

At the moment, the audio recordings are fixed binaural (meaning that they’re ideal for headphones, but don’t rotate as you rotate the images). Full Ambisonic recordings, with rotation following the images, are coming soon along with excerpts from the interview with Martin Green.