Clifton Walk Area: Clifton, Nottingham City Clifton Hall and Family the Hall May Have Originated from a Watchtower Overlooking the Trent

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POINTS OF INTEREST THE FACTS Clifton Walk Area: Clifton, Nottingham City Clifton Hall and Family The Hall may have originated from a watchtower overlooking the Trent. A more substantial building existed in the 16th century, Distance: 5 miles (8 km) or shorter walk 4 miles (6.5km) which was altered c1632. It was remodelled c1779 by John Carr of York with (distances quoted are rounded off) further alterations in the 19th century. From the churchyard you see the 18th century brick built colonnaded east frontage flanked by two wings. It was the country house of the Clifton family and their descendents until 1947. For 18 Duration: About 2.5 hours or shorter walk about 2 hours years it housed Clifton Hall Girls Grammar School, and then Nottingham Trent University School of Education. It is now in private ownership and has been Maps: As Leaflet or OS Landranger 129 / OS Explorer Map 260 subdivided into apartments. The estates of Wilford and Clifton were granted to Sir Gervase de Clifton in Travel Information: Nottingham City Transport Navy Line Bus or Tram to 1272. He was descended from Alvaredus, a Norman knight, who was Clifton South - get off at Clifton Centre, Southchurch appointed warden of Nottingham Castle in the time of William the Conqueror. Drive (see www.nctx.co.uk / www.thetram.net) A later descendent, Gervase ‘the Great’ was made a baronet in 1611. The last direct descendent died in 1869, but subsequent descendents, including the Terrain: Woodland and riverside paths, pavements, playing fields Bruce family, took on the Clifton name. The family controlled the village until and parks. Mainly level ground with one moderate slope 1947 when the land was purchased by Nottingham City Council (known then and a few steps. Parts can be muddy. Parts unsuitable as the Corporation). for wheelchairs and mobility scooters Clifton Grove Elms were planted in the 1690s to flank the main carriage drive to the Hall from Fairham Brook. As a result of Dutch Elm disease, all were Starting point: Clifton Leisure Centre, Southchurch Drive, NG11 8AB removed and replaced by Horse Chestnuts and other species. Within the (point A) woods are the remains of a shooting lodge and fountain. The Grove features in the legend of the Fair Maid of Clifton, punished for her unfaithfulness, in a poem Refreshments: Clifton Leisure Centre has drink vending machines and by Henry Kirke White. toilets. There are other eating and drinking facilities in Clifton Bridge Clifton Bridge was built in 1958, widened in the early 1970s Clifton centre and improved again in 1995. Clifton Estate In 1945 Nottingham had an acute shortage of houses, and limited building land within its boundary. In 1947, Nottingham City Council purchased over 900 acres (over 360 hectares) of farmland adjacent to Clifton Village. In 1950, after two public inquiries, planning permission was granted to develop the site. The first residents moved here in 1951. In the same year, the City boundary was extended to the south to incorporate 2287 acres (926 hectares), including the villages of Clifton and Wilford. Clifton Central Park and Playing Fields From the outset it was recognised Circular walk including the River Trent, Fairham Brook, that open space for sport and recreation would be required within Clifton Clifton Estate and Clifton Village. estate. Two major parks were created. While Clifton Playing Fields was laid out primarily for sport and recreation, Clifton Central Park (known by many as Walk No. 4 the Flower Park) was laid out with a very different character, with flower and shrub beds and tree-lined walks. There are over 500 trees in Clifton Central Park and over 40 different species. These include Oak, Beech, Ash, Birch, Produced by the Nottingham Local Access Forum with the support of Nottingham City Council For other LAF walks in this series see www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/localaccessforum Cover images, Tram at Southchurch Drive, Maple, Pine, Lime, Cherry and Crab Apple. July 2017 Clifton Central Park and Clifton Hall twentieth century, and isstillpopulartodaywithwalkers, cyclistsandhorseriders. beauty spotwas afavouriteoutingforNottingham folkinthenineteenth andearly Keuper Marlformingacliff abovetheTrent. Walking and picnickinginthisnatural the carpark,andkeepheading straighton.ThisisCliftonGrove,onanoutcropof important wildlifesites.You enteroneoftheseviathe footpathatthefarendof Nottinghamshire WildlifeTrust informationboardtellsyoumore about three E RetraceyourstepsacrossHolgate totheRiverUsersCarPark.The entrance fromthechurchtoCliftonHall,whichisbestseen fromthechurchyard. crucifix onthewestgableofroofandinterestinggargoyles. Notetheprivate century church,whichwasfoundedmuchearlier. Thereisararepre-reformation Beyond, istheChurchofStMaryVirgin. Take alookatthismainlyfourteenth the Village Greentoyourleft,areHomeFarmandtheold stablesofCliftonHall. D inheritor ofCliftonHallinthelate19thcentury. A numberofbuildingsareinscribedwiththeinitialsHervey Bruce(laterClifton), and daterelatetotheremodellingbyThomasJohnor JaneLambertin1707. added tointhe17thcentury, withfurtherchangesinlatercenturies.Theinitials farmhouse datingfrom1319containsanimportanttimberframedhall,whichwas framed andbrickcottageswiththatchedroofs,othersdatingbackto1450.A a readingroomandshop.Othernotablebuildingsinclude15thcenturytimber House onyourleft.Opposite,oneoftheearly20thcenturybuildingswereonce C Wal are hiddenbehindtreesontheedgeofVillage Green. schoolhouse. ResidencesconvertedfromtheGeorgeWells Almshousesof1709 stone andCoatofArmswasoncethevillageschoolbuiltin1871,withanadjacent contains 2,300nestboxes.To theright,Village Hall,withabellturret,date- stands inthecentreofVillage Green.Thelargestdovecoteinthearea,it Book of1086.Theearly18thcenturyDovecote,nowwithwarmemorialplaques, B Village Green. A453 “RemembranceWay” usingthepedestriancrossingonyourleft,ontoClifton see theoldvillagesmithyandblacksmith’s house,onyourleft.Crossthebusy mature trees.BeyondGlaptonAcademy, turnrightacrossabridge,thenleft,to development. Keeptothefootpathonitsleft,whicheventuallywandersthrough small settlementofGlaptonandyouwillseeolderhousesamongstthe1950s trees. CrosstheroadtoGlaptonLane.Thiswasoncevillagelaneof Drive. A THE ROUTE The oldvillageofClifton,aConservationArea,wasmentionedintheDomesday From thebus/tramstops,walktoLeisureCentreandcrossSouthchurch Tur n rightintoHolgateanancient‘hollowway’leadingtothe RiverTrent. Behind k alongVillage Road,passingtheearly19thcenturyOldRectoryandCoach Follow thecurvedpathnexttobeechhedge,takingleftforkthrough Southchurch Drive, point board neartheexit.You arrivebackatthebus/tramstopsandLeisureCentre on contains manymaturetrees and different wildlifehabitats.Thereisaninformation (100 metres)taketheleftfork path,passinganoutdoorgymontheright.Thepark right, towardsCliftonCentral Park.Walk intothePark,afterabout110yards I of theskateparkandthroughgateontoFarnborough Road. stream mergesintothebrook.Crossfootbridgeand turnright.Walk totheright through standsofmaturetrees.Afterabouthalfamile(800 metres)Nethergate H TheplayingfieldsforFarnboroughAcademyaretoyourright. Thepathskirts rejoin thebrookafteraboutaquarterofmile(400metres). small wood,toCliftonPlayingFields.Keeptheleftside oftheplayingfieldsand tracks, signedtoCliftoncentre.Take thepathonyourleft,whichrunsalongside a the brook.Attramcrossingignorepathtoyourleft butcarefullycrossthe T junction,turnrightandcrossthefootbridgeoverbrook. Turn leftandfollow managed toencouragewildlife.Afteraboutamile(1600 metres)youcometoa bounded byhedgerowsandwoodland.Someofthegrasslandtoyourleftisbeing G Tak opposite theroundabout. metres) away, behindthephonekioskoncornerofroadwhereitturnsleft the shortsubway. Turn rightandheadforthefootpathsign,around140yards(130 right, pastthepetrolstationandgarage.Followpathtoleftgothrough turning lefttothepedestriancrossing,oppositeChristadelphianChurch.Turn river byheadingtowardsthepetrolstation,passingacarpark.Crossroad, Bridge, crossafootbridgeoverFairhamBrook,whereitenterstheTrent. Leavethe Trent Valley. Continueforaroundhalfamile(800metres),beforeyoureachClifton right. Thebridlewayisboundedbyhedgerowsandtreeswithviewsacrossthe F HeadingtowardsWilford,thehillsgivewaytoarablefieldsandpylons,onyour Holme Pitpond,aSiteofSpecialScientificInterest). At thebottomofHolgateatpointE,ifyouhavetime,followbridlewaysignsto Nethergate towardstheVillage GreenthenretraceyourstepstoCliftonCentre. bridleway toHolgateandCliftonVillage. HeadalongHolgateandbearrightonto bridleway withtheriveronyourrightforabouthalfamile.AtpointEturnleftup on yourlefttowardsWilford.(Fortheshorterwalk,atpointFturnandfollow bridleway alongtheriver. Forthelongerwalk,continuestraightaheadwithriver over halfamile(800metres)andthefootpathgentlydescendsmeets left. NottinghamTrent UniversityCliftonCampusisontheright.Continueforjust to thewideupperfootpath(andpermissivebridleway),ignoringpaths Through thewoodlandonyourleftyouhaveviewsacrossTrent Valley. Keep Cross theroad,andwalkalong the tree-linedpathkeepingstreamonyour e thestepsdownandfollowpath(SilverdaleWalk) alongFairhamBrook, A.

MAP

THE WALK

SHORTER WALK (LINK TO CLIFTON BOULEVARD CLIFTON VILLAGE) TRAM ROUTE TRAM STOPS

CLIFTON LANE

FARNBOROUGH ROAD

CLIFTON GROVE NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

CLIFTON CLIFTON PLAYING GREEN LANE FIELDS CLIFTON WOOD FAIRHAM HOLME PIT BROOK

REMEMBRANCE WAY