Explore Nottingham City & Nottinghamshire
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Explore Nottingham City & Nottinghamshire 48 places to see, 58 weblinks 121 photographs in 16 galleries Les Churchman Nottinghamshire: The city of Nottingham and the county of Nottinghamshire have ancient and modern! something for everyone! * Caves inhabited during the last Ice Age with pre-historic artefacts ; * Nottingham City - continuously inhabited since Saxon times; * A city and county rich in medieval remains and legends; * A network of caves under the modern city; * Sites of interest from the English Civil War; * A Victorian industrial heritage still visible today; * A City and County with a wide choice of restaurants; * A major shopping destination; * A county studded with stately homes frequented by kings, queens and aristocrats; * A vibrant theatre, music and nightlife scene; * Sporting venues of national and international standing; * A centre of excellence for students with two universities; * Links with literary figures of national importance. Whatever interests you, this guide will give you the facts, photo galleries and web links to plan and enjoy your visit! i Chapter 1 The City of Nottingham Nottingham is so much more than the city of Robin Hood. The eighth largest urban area in the UK, it combines pride in its rich history with being a modern vibrant city offering sport, shopping, theatre, art, music, restaurants, and nightlife. If you know where to look, you can discover the best of the city’s past while enjoying 21st century Nottingham! Section 1 Nottingham - an introduction If you know where to look, the historic city still co-exists with the modern one. The ancient Britons called it “the city of caves”. You can still see outcrops of sandstone in the city centre with entrances into the cave system that lies under the city centre. You can even visit some of these caves. The legend of Robin Hood is known the whole world over. It centres on Nottingham, its castle and the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham. You can visit secret passages under the castle used in royal intrigue and plots. St Mary’s church is mentioned in the legends too. The old castle was burnt down in the 19th century by a rioting mob. Now the Castle is a mansion standing on an outcrop of high rock dominating the city centre. Set into the Castle Rock, the “Trip to Jerusalem” public house claims to be the oldest pub in England. Every year in October, the Goose Fair reminds us of the time in the 13th century when thousands of geese were driven miles into the city to be sold. The city’s importance as a textile and lace centre during the Industrial Revolution can be seen in the historic Lace Market district. So, let’s start the journey into the city of the cave dwellers, legends, poets, writers, kings and industrialists. 3 Section 2 Historic Nottingham Overview While there is evidence of settlers in Nottinghamshire in base in the English Civil War in the 17th century, the castle found prehistoric times, the first mention of “Snotengaham” is in the itself on the losing side. By razing the castle, it could no longer Anglo-Saxon chronicles of the 9th century. By the 11th century be used as a Royalist base. On the restoration of the monarchy there were two settlements: the Anglo-Saxon one to the east the Duke of Newcastle built a mansion on the castle site in the where St Mary’s church now stands and the Norman French 1670s. settlement around the Castle Rock area. Over the years these From the late 18th century, Nottingham prospered as a textile settlements grew together to form Nottingham. and lace centre during the Industrial Revolution. Not everyone Running under much of the city centre is a network of more than benefited from this prosperity and an angry, rioting mob burned 450 man-made caves, occupied and used from the 11th to the down the mansion. 20th centuries. The present Castle Museum and Art Gallery was opened in 1878 The medieval castle, which no longer stands, saw fighting by the Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII. between King Richard I and Prince John in the 12th century. Nottingham’s association with textiles continued and is now Just over a century later, the young Edward III effectively witnessed by the Lace Market district. This was never a organised a coup d’état, entering the castle by a secret passage “market” for buying and selling but rather a series of impressive in order to arrest his mother and her lover, Roger Mortimer. This 19th century buildings used as warehouses and to display passage is open to visitors to the castle today. products. This district is now a protected heritage area with a In the 14th and 16th centuries the castle was a residence and a mix of medieval, 18th and 19th century buildings. fortress with frequent royal visitors. However, used as a royalist 4 Section 3 The Old Market Square The Old Market Square has been the centre of the city for 900 To the north of the square are the Theatre Royal, the Royal years. In the 11th century it was the market place for the Saxon Concert Hall, the Cornerhouse cinemas and shopping streets settlement around today’s Lace Market and the Norman castle. leading to the Victoria shopping centre. To the east you will find Since the late 13th century it was the site of the city’s famous Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery, the Lace Market and the Goose Fair. Originally an agricultural market, the fair gained its quirky shopping streets of Hockley, Going south the shopping name from the fact that as many as 20,000 geese would be streets take you to the Broadmarsh shopping centre - at the time driven into the city for sale for feasting at Michaelmas in October. of writing, awaiting renovation. Finally to the west of the square The modern Goose Fair is now a funfair and has been moved to are Nottingham Castle and The Trip To Jerusalem, featured the Forest Recreation Ground, 2 miles away. elsewhere in this guide. The square is dominated by the Council House, the home of Nottingham City Council. The modern building dates from 1927 and is a focus for royal visits, parades and protests. On the side of the Council House, on Smithy Row, is the Tourist Information Office. Throughout the year the square hosts food markets, a Christmas market, concerts, special events and celebrations. In summer the square is even transformed into a beach with sand, water and seaside attractions. 5 The Old Market Square is said to be the largest surviving city square in the United Kingdom In 2007 the redesigned square was opened with grey granite fountains which prove irresistible to children in summer! The Square has several neo-Gothic buildings around it. The 19th century buildings feature spires, towers and fantastic sculptures. South of the Old Market Square is the church of St Peter, built between 1175 and 1340. The stone lions flanking the entrance to the Council House have become a symbol of the city. The Art Deco statues are a popular place to arrange to meet in the city centre. The ground floor of the Council House is taken up with “The Exchange” - an upmarket shopping centre. Who needs the sea when there are fountains? In summer the Old Market Square is transformed for a few weeks into a beach for families and their children to enjoy. Section 4 Nottingham Castle The original wooden Nottingham Castle built by the Normans his ancestors infuriated a rioting mob in 1831 by opposing a new was replaced in the 12th century by a stone fortress. The castle law intended to give ordinary people more rights. The mob sits on an outcrop called Castle Rock with cliffs 40m high to the burned down the house in a riot. In 1875 the house was rebuilt south and west. The caves under the castle were used as a to become a museum and art gallery. brewhouse for beer and an entrance from the river Leen which Official website: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx? used to run by the foot of the rock. The castle has been the site articleid=1036 of significant historical events. When Richard I returned from the Crusades at the end of the 12th century, he had to besiege the castle to get it back from his brother John. Then, at the start of the 14th century, the young King Edward III arrested his mother and her lover, Roger de Mortimer. Edward entered the castle from the base of the Castle Rock, using the caves and passageways now called “Mortimer’s Hole”. See the weblink on the right for times of tours. In the 17th century, during the English Civil War, the castle was a stronghold for King Charles I. After the execution of King Charles in 1649, the castle was ruined as a punishment to the city. When the English monarchy was restored in 1660, the Duke of Newcastle built a stately home on the site. Unfortunately, one of 16 Just outside the Castle walls stands the statue of Robin Hood, a focal point for tourists’ photographs. Standing in what was the Castle moat, the statue is surrounded by wall plaques showing scenes from the legends. The bronze statue, designed by James Woodford R.A., was unveiled in 1952. Sitting on Castle Rock, the original 12th century castle was the centre of the Norman city. The Gatehouse gives an idea of what the original medieval castle looked like. The 19th century Castle Museum is surrounded by beautifully kept gardens. Underneath the Castle are many man-made caves and tunnels.