Unspun Stories was an immersive digital journey into Bradford’s late 20th century textile heritage, created by 509 Arts and the Colour Foundry for Bradford 2025. 

Bradford’s textile industry dates back more than 700 years, but its history isn’t only ancient. Unspun Stories looked at life in the mills during the last decades of the 20th century, when people travelled to Bradford from around the world to work in an industry that played a central role in the economy of the district. 

This immersive installation lasted around 20 minutes, blending archive film footage, projections and soundscapes with audio recordings from those who worked in the mills during the ’70s, ’80s and 90s. Produced by 509 Arts as part of their Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions project, the result was an evocative journey back to a pivotal moment in Bradford’s recent history. 

On Saturday 29th March and Sunday 30th, parts of the Unspun Stories soundtrack were performed live in the installation. Two brass musicians from the City of Bradford Brass Band and the composer, Nick Lewis, brought an added musical dimension to the immersive experience of Unspun Stories.