Our story

We’ve Always Been a Town of Industry.

Industrial Evolution.

From coal seams to creative scenes, from pits to pixels:

Mansfield’s story is one of transformation.

Mining, milling, and manufacturing didn’t just build our economy… they forged our character. They turned a rural settlement into a town that helped fuel the nation through generations of change, resilience, and reinvention.

Mansfield wasn’t just built — it was well crafted. Shaped by highly-skilled craftsmen, engineers, and problem-solvers, the town carried a quiet excellence in its work, from quarries, brewing, shoemaking, textiles and foundries to factories and workshops.

Made in Mansfield.

What defined Mansfield wasn’t just what it produced, but how it revolutionised the way things were made.

Mansfield reached new heights through its ingenuity. Mansfield Stone, prized for nearly a millennium, was exported far and wide, including to iconic sites like Trafalgar Square and Westminster. Companies like Metal Box became part of everyday life far beyond the town, producing tins, post boxes, and industrial goods that travelled across the country and the world creating iconic tins for brands like Royal Mail, Quality Street and even the Royal Family.

Made in Mansfield wasn’t just a global brand, it was local pride, identity and a reputation built with excellence, ingenuity, care, and pride.

But industry wasn’t just where we worked – it was where our community thrived. The bonds formed in mines, factories, trade unions and workshops created a spirit of solidarity, resilience and shared purpose that still defines Mansfield today.

Now, that spirit is finding a new rhythm, and shaping what comes next.

In the 2020s, Mansfield is confidently stepping into a new chapter, defined by culture, creativity, and a modern, connected economy.

425 +

Startups in Mansfield that survived their first year in 2022 — the highest rate nationwide.

Same Spirit. New Ways of Making.

 Plenty has changed over the years, but who we are hasn’t.

Mansfield has always been built by people who dig deep, graft-hard and look-out for one another, driven by curiosity, invention and the belief that tomorrow can be better than today.

Once, we shaped the world with our hands. Now, we shape it with ideas, tech and creative thinking.

Mansfield’s excellence didn’t fade… it quietly transformed.

From innovative high-tech manufacturers, like Glenair or Toray, who produce parts that power planes, trains and global industries, to world-class artists, entrepreneurs and digital creators pushing culture forward.

Making is still what we do. It just looks different now…

Start-ups and studios. Coders and craftspeople. The new makers of the 21st century.

Different tools. Same innovation. Same high-standards.

Just as we always have, we’re making what comes next.

Designed in Mansfield.

Built by makers. Now driven by creators.

Mansfield is home to world-class creative talent, forged in a proud working-class tradition.

We’re resourceful. We use creativity to solve problems, build businesses, deliver impactful events, and shape our future.

From Linney Create, the East Midlands’ largest creative agency, to the Mansfield Town Film Festival, the county’s biggest, and One Fest – a national annual celebration of diverse representation in the performing arts. Mansfield is a growing hub for artists, filmmakers, designers, and producers whose work reaches far beyond the region.

From grassroots poets and technicians to opera singers and internationally acclaimed musicians, Mansfield’s creative, performing arts, and cultural scene is alive with energy and growth.

Creative pathways in Mansfield are being shaped by national cultural funding and local, community-led initiatives, opening up more routes into the creative industries.

Mansfield is proudly neuro-inclusive. By supporting and uplifting neurodivergent thinkers, the town is emerging as a leading voice in championing neurodiverse perspectives – embracing different ways of thinking as a source of creativity and progress.

Today, Mansfield carries its story forward through those who think outside the box, shaping a new identity built on imagination, inclusion, and momentum.

Our storybook

Want to share what’s great about our town with your network? The Mansfield Storybook is your go-to guide on everything that makes us a brilliant place to live, learn, work and play.

Download and check it out, or get in touch to request a printed copy.

Mansfield Storybook publication

Become an Ambassador

We’re looking for proud local people to help us champion everything that makes our town special. From flying the flag at local events to building a buzz online, you’ll be right at the heart of our mission to show the world what we’re made of.

Find out more or apply.