Our day started with a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant and a glance at the morning newspapers. We then wrapped up warm before setting off for a walk along the canal towpath.
The Nottingham and Beeston canal runs through the city centre and was just a few minutes walk from the Holiday Inn. Before heading into town we made a short detour to take a look at all the colourful narrowboats moored in the Castle Marina. It was then a leisurely 20 minute walk to Castle Wharf, the city’s vibrant waterfront district and home to the beautiful Canalhouse pub we had eaten lunch in the previous day.
Our plan for the morning was to take a tour of the City of Caves, its starting point seeming very intriguing as it is accessed from the top floor of the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. Entrance to the caves is £7.95 but it’s possible to purchase a combined ticket which includes the nearby National Justice Museum for £16. There are over 500 caves in Nottingham dating back to the Dark Ages with some public houses still having access to them today through their beer cellars.
Our one hour tour commenced at 11.00 a.m. and before entering the ancient man made caves, we each popped on a hard hat so that we didn’t bump our heads whilst stooping through the narrow tunnels.
Our tour guide Harry then led us along winding passageways through a short section of Nottingham’s network of sandstone caves. We heard stories of how the caves were used in bygone days and paused to view remnants of slum dwellings and public house cellars. Sitting on benches in a disused Anderson shelter just as local people had done to seek refuge during Second World War air raids, we examined gas masks, wartime toys and games that kept people occupied during those terrifying times.
Our guide then demonstrated the primitive methods used for producing leather in a medieval tannery before leading us back up the steps to the exit. Before planning our visit to Nottingham I’d never realised that the city had such a large network of caves and it was very interesting to discover a hidden world beneath our feet on this tour.
Leaving the caves, it was just a five minute walk along to the National Justice Museum on High Pavement. This museum is located in Nottingham’s old Georgian courthouse and county gaol, the steps of which were the site of many public executions. Admission to certain parts of the museum are free, with full access tickets costing £10.95 or £16 for a combination ticket with the caves which we had just visited. Visitors are asked to wear wristbands labelled with a convict’s number which can be searched for in one of the galleries to find out your crime and length of sentence.
Wandering around the building we came across several historical characters, each of whom had their own story to tell based on their experiences of law, justice, crime and punishment. Stood outside the prison cells was one of the museum characters, Elizabeth Fry who was a 19th century prison reformist who became so famous that she ended up featured on our £5 notes. The character posing as her explained the appalling conditions Fry witnessed in prisons across the country and of the numerous changes that she introduced to improve prisoners’ lives.
Exploring the Crime gallery was thought provoking as it posed questions such as ‘what is crime’ and ‘what causes people to commit crime’ and also focused on protests, riots, terrorism, murder and robbery.
A mock trial takes place twice daily in the oak panelled Victorian courtroom and not wanting to miss out we made sure we were seated before proceedings began. A character portraying a barrister gave us some quirky facts about the Victorian courtroom where trials were still held as recently as 1986. He then invited members of the audience to act as a judge and four witnesses and these willing volunteers were then each given laminated narrative sheets with their own parts highlighted. With everyone in place, the accused was called into the dock, a highway woman called Joan Phillips and the trial got underway taking around 20 minutes. I thought this mock trial with audience participation was extremely well thought out and suitable for all ages.
After the trial had finished we went for a coffee but returned to the museum at 3.30 p.m. to take the Tales of Truth and Legend tour which lasts one hour and is included in the ticket price. This tour began outside the building looking at the splendid Georgian architecture before moving into the grand entrance hall with its arched ceiling and heraldry shields adorning the walls.
The tour then takes visitors through some areas of the museum not normally open to the public passing along dark, dimly lit tunnels and into sandstone caves. It was down one of these that our guide unlocked a heavy door leading to the sheriff’s dungeon. Stepping inside, she explained that it was in this dark pit that folklore suggests the famous Nottingham outlaw Robin Hood was once held and tortured.
Our tour continued along more narrow passageways and dark tunnels where we viewed a series of gruesome torture artefacts including stocks and pillories into which offenders would be strapped between planks of wood. These punishments for minor offences would usually take place at noon in the town square on busy market days so that as many people as possible could watch the punishment taking place.
There were still more gruesome things in store, as we were taken to see a trap door through which prisoners were thrown down and left to starve. This was known as an Oubliette which is French for ‘to forget’. Last, but not least, the macabre tour led us out to Felon’s Yard where we inspected the last working gallows in Britain. This had been used at Wandsworth Prison in London and tested on a regular basis until the early 1990’s. Until then, the death penalty remained a theoretical possibility for certain crimes. Seeing the hangman’s noose hanging from the gallows and being able to stand on the trap door above what would have been a 3.6 m (12ft) fatal drop wasn’t for the faint hearted but it reminded us of how times have changed.
This concluded our Tales of Truth and Justice tour. What a time we had, there’s so much to experience at the National Justice Museum what with mock court cases, tours and more. We spent several hours there viewing its Victorian courtroom, gaol and police station – an historic building where an individual could be arrested, sentenced and even executed. Do try and go if you plan to visit Nottingham as it’s one of the best museums I’ve visited and is excellent value for money.
Leaving the museum, we felt ready to eat and where better to go for a meal than the Cock and Hoop directly opposite. This traditional Victorian ale house is located in a period building that was once a pub with rooms for an audience to watch the hangings on the steps of the courtroom opposite, apparently a popular activity at the time.
Nowadays the Cock and Hoop is an AA rosette gastro pub serving real ales. Diners can either eat in the cosy ground floor snug or in the downstairs dining room which we opted for.
From the menu I selected the grilled lamb rump served with creamy mashed potato, courgettes and tomatoes which was served pink, just to my liking. Across the table my son ordered the Cock and Hoop fish and chips which were lightly battered in pale ale with pease pudding and thickly cut chips.
We couldn’t resist ordering a dessert and we were both delighted with choices of sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce and chocolate brownie with sorbet.
Just after we left the pub and were walking down High Pavement we noticed a branch of Pitcher & Piano located in a former Unitarian church. Fancying a nightcap, we wandered inside and were so glad that we did as it’s a beautifully restored church complete with vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows and original stonework.
The deconsecrated church has been converted into different levels with glass walkways and spiral staircases with a feature island bar running down the middle. We found some comfortable chairs in one of the cosy alcoves and rounded off our evening sipping cocktails.
If you have enjoyed reading this post you may also be interested in:
Other posts in this series:
Similar posts:
Nottingham University and Arboretum
Love Travelling Blog 
Pingback: Nottingham – A Travel Guide – Love Travelling Blog
Pingback: Day 1. Nottingham – a perfect weekend break – Love Travelling Blog
Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen such an in depth review of my home city! Made me want to go back home now lol. Haven’t been to the caves in ages!! And Pitcher & Piano wow, I miss that place too!! Thanks for this 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s my pleasure, thank you for your welcome thoughts. I could return to Nottingham at any time, I loved it do much!
LikeLike
I did know the caves were there but also thought it was interesting the entrance was within the shopping centre, a bit unusual. I didn’t know about the justice museum though. Tempted to make a day trip just for that as it sounds really cool and Nottingham’s an easy journey. Thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You showing Nottingham. Now I have an idea about how it looks like. I have heard about it and its Sheriff of Nottingham when reading stories of Robin Hood. Nice Place for a visit.
Have a good day!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Matti for taking an interest in my series of posts on Nottingham. It’s good to read that you are familiar with Robin Hood. Perhaps you might have an opportunity to visit the city one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nottingham looks a much more interesting place than I had imagined
Mike Vickers
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Mike for your much appreciated thoughts. Nottingham is a very pleasant and interesting city and well worth a visit if you have an opportunity to visit sometime.
LikeLike
You certainly get around. One day Hong Kong.
I’m sure you have been to Edinburgh but if not worth a visit.
Linlithgow just 12 miles away is good for a day visit too. The birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots
see MyLinlithgow.com – a new website just coming available to cover the whole town.
Kind regards
Mike Vickers
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Mike, I’ve visited Edinburgh many times and love the city but haven’t been to Linlithgow yet so will look into it, thank you.
LikeLike
I love the look of the Pitcher and Piano in that beautiful old church (had to look up on net what Pitcher and Piano is) and that old police car; so cute!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Sue, ending the evening at the Pitcher & Piano was perfect and that little police car was so sweet though it perhaps didn’t travel very fast!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great tour!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your kind words.
LikeLike
So much you can pack into just one day. I was exhausted just reading. The Crime Gallery would be my pick as that would be of great interest. Once again you have to put up a picture of that glorious fish and chips meal. It looked yummy! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Zia, we had a splendid time in Nottingham and the fish and chips were indeed delicious!
LikeLike
The descriptions and photos of the waves were quite interesting. One doesn’t usually find caves in a more urban setting.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s what I found intriguing too, having caves in a city centre. Thank you for your much appreciated thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an interesting city! It sounds like a wonderful trip that I would like to take myself some day and explore that museum.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for taking such an interest in this post. I hope you get an opportunity to visit Nottingham sometime soon.
LikeLike
I love these reports showing unexpected sights “in plain sight” so to speak. So many cities have hidden treasures we are usually too busy to notice until someone points them out.,
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your kind words. Nottingham has so many interesting sights and the caves were unexpected
LikeLike
Familiar territory. I’ve walked that towpath many a time and my daughter works in a building close by. Probably sat in that seat in the pub too! 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nottingham is such a pleasant city Jo, we had such a lovely time.
LikeLike
I like it a lot too 😍💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the church now a pub!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. It has been beautifully converted into tasteful surroundings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe I’m crazy but I spotted some creepy figures in some of your photos! In the one inside the pub, it looks like a man in a black shirt is leaning over the table on the right side. It looks like his head is lost into the white door but I can see what looks like an arm resting against the black shirt.
And in the one of the felon’s yard and gallows, it looks like a tall, creepy ghosty-figure is is standing in the corner where the two walls meet. Its head is between the narrow window and what looks like a modern light fixture.
Gave me chills! That’s what happens when you have a writer’s imagination…..
LikeLiked by 3 people
went back a few times, but yes, I can see what you meant. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A treasure trove of history through your eyes, thank you again.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s my pleasure, I’m so glad you found it interesting.
LikeLike
I live near Nottingham, but only ever go there to go shopping. I hadn’t realised any of this was there – maybe I should go next time I’m there.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Sarah for your kind words. I’m sure you would enjoy visiting Nottingham’s cultural attractions when you have time.
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed Nottingham! The caves are really interesting; apparently there are even caves under the city today, that have yet to be discovered. Some houses in the are use their caves for storage, so pubs will store drinks in them etc.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, we loved our weekend in Nottingham, it’s such a pleasant city with so many nice things to see and do.
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed visiting Nottingham, had I known you were coming I would have given you a few pointers; being my hometown. Though it looks like you had a lovely day as it was.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Martin, during our three days we visited lots of interesting parts of the city. Hopefully we will be back before too long to see some more.
LikeLike
I really enjoyed this post – can’t believe there’s all those Cave under Nottingham – it all sounds really interesting – we will visit on our Narrowboat and take this tour x
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Stephanie for taking an interest in this series of posts on Nottingham. How lovely that you have your own narrowboat and gently make your way there.
LikeLike
One of my favourite cities, loved all of your photos and the fascinating post. The City of Caves looks so good, that would definitely be on our list of things to do if we were back in Nottingham. Never realised there were any caves under the city.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Jonno for your kind words. Nottingham is really a very pleasant city to spend a few days in, and there are so many nice things to see and do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just up the road is St. Mary’s church with its rich history. I will be taking my photographic society there Saturday morning for a trip up the tower and photo shoot inside the church. If you’re still around, please join us after 10am.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your kind words Roger. We’re actually back now but did have an opportunity of looking inside St. Mary’s on our final day in Nottingham. I would like to take a trip up the tower on a future visit to Nottingham.
LikeLiked by 1 person