![]() ![]() The City of Caves operates as part of the National Justice Museum, found a short walk away on High Pavement. An underground dwelling in Nottingham’s Caves | Photo credit: Christian Baines The National Justice Museum, Nottingham Castle, and the Real Sheriff of Nottingham One of the city’s earliest names, Tigguo Cobauc, is an ancient term meaning “Place of Caves.” The caves have served as houses, cellars, factories, storage houses, a tannery, gambling dens, air raid shelters, and other structures throughout their history, right up to the present day.Ī tour through “The City of Caves” takes in a number of highlights including Britain’s only underground tannery, used in medieval times, an air raid shelter used during the bombings of World War 2, and a typical residence from the former slum of Drury Hill, located roughly where Broadmarsh now stands. The first caves appear to have been dug by the Saxons as early as the 6th century. Over 100 of these were discovered only in the last ten years, making the charting of Nottingham’s underground history a fascinating ongoing process. Over 500 sandstone caves have been found to date, hollowed out of the soft sandstone beneath the city of Nottingham. Broadmarsh Shopping Centre may be one of the most reviled buildings in Nottingham (several architectural facelifts have done nothing to win over the locals), but it houses the entrance to one of the city’s most intriguing attractions, the City of Caves, where the public can tour a small section of Nottingham’s historic underworld. Nottingham is famous as the UK’s City of Caves, built atop a sandstone ridge with a vast network of underground caverns running beneath its streets. An ancient city built on a network of hewn out caves, Nottingham’s history and attractions include Britain’s only underground tannery, its oldest operating pub, the National Justice Museum, and even the National Videogame Arcade. They’re missing out, since the real Nottingham has lots to see and enjoy that has nothing to do with its fictitious hero. Many international tourists tend to bypass the East Midlands city, resigning the tales of Sherwood Forest and the infamous Sheriff of Nottingham to the past. If Robin Hood is the first thing you associate with the city of Nottingham, you’re not alone. Afterwards, you can try your hand at panning for 'gold'.Ey up me duck! There’s plenty to see and do in the East Midlands city of Nottingham on your trip to England. So why not get take a trip down a genuine mine shaft?Īt Matlock Bath's Peak District Lead Mining Museum in Derbyshire you can take a guided tour into an authentic 1920s lead and fluorspar mine, which is cramped, slippery, and gives a great idea of what working underground must have been like. Mining has played a huge part in the East Midlands' heritage. ![]() The caves here are a UNESCO World Heritage site, as they feature cave art designed by ancient Ice Age hunters.Īrchaeologists believe they were occupied between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. If it's history you're after, the Creswell Crags in north Nottinghamshire go back further than most sites. So make sure you put your hiking boots on. You'll need to park up and take a walk to find them to explore though. And in recent years the site has been linked to 9th century king Saint Hardulf who is buried five miles away at Breedon on the Hill. Records of the caves exist as far back as 1658 when it was mentioned in the Repton Church records. The caves at Anchor Church, Ingleby, used to be part of the River Trent (Image: Wendy Baldwin) Calke AbbeyĪfter taking a tour of the stately home that time forgot, visitors to the National Trust property on the Leicestershire-Derbyshire border can head into the dingy brewhouse tunnel to leave the property. While you can explore a small section with a slight bend in the middle, the tunnel is rumoured to continue on to the town's historic White Hart and Bulls Head pubs in Market Street. Running underneath the walls of the castle made famous in Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe is an underground passage which runs between the tower and the kitchen. But under the earthworks of the town's partially ruined castle there's also an interesting feature to take a look around. The ruins of Ashby's fortifications might define the town's skyline. READ MORE: Guided 'mindfulness' walks at Leicestershire beauty spot Beacon Hill aim to reconnect people to nature Ashby Castle We've rounded up some of the most interesting and unusual places to delve into. ![]() In and around the county there are a number of caves, caverns and tunnels which adventurous types can explore. Rain might threaten to spoil your weekend plans from time to time. ![]()
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