Saturday, October 18, 2014

Nottingham (4) Castle and Rock

 Nottingham Castle was built in William the Conqueror’s time, high on Castle Rock. The Norman castle is no longer there, but there is a 17th century ducal mansion built on the site of the original castle.  It is now the city's main museum and art gallery. We didn't visit, so on the list it goes!
The rock is formed of Nottingham Castle Sandstone, a pale brownish sandstone that is about 65 metres thick in the Nottingham area.  
It is soft and crumbly and easy to dig out.  Caves and tunnels in Castle Rock have been used as stables, tanneries, storage cellars for beer, and as homes. There are more caves in Nottingham than in any other British city, and all are man made. 
This is part of a restored Victorian fern garden


 I didn’t take a tour this time, but they take you from the Castle, down into King David’s dungeon and Mortimer’s Hole. The tour includes 300 steps.


Brewhouse Yard 

Nearby is the Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard.

2 comments:

Ida Jones said...

The sandstone walls, caves etc. look fascinating. Until your blog pieces I hadn't realised Nottingham has so much to offer!

aliqot said...

Nor did I. And there's Sherwood forest just up the road as well!