Jo’s Monday walk : Nottingham Castle

Just what you'd expect from the entrance to a castle

Just what you’d expect from the entrance to an ancient castle

We’re not going to do too much walking in Nottingham this week.  Up to the castle to check out the view, of course, but after that I might treat you to a half in ‘Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem’. It’s an interesting old place!

I know Nottingham quite well, because it’s my daughter’s home, but it’s years since I’ve been to the castle.  As in many parts of the country this year, there was a war-related exhibition- ‘Trent to Trenches’.  But first, we must climb up to the castle.  It’s not too steep and we can go slowly through the gardens, or even sit on a bench for a while.

Naturally, Robin's hanging out there!

Naturally, Robin’s hanging out there!

Semprevirens form a display in the border
With a thrust or two of Cordeline
There’s a lovely summer house, with a bench or two for lingering
And I even spied an owl on guard duty!

Once you reach Castle Rock, there’s a large viewing terrace with patio tables and chairs.  Another invitation to linger, with perhaps a pot of coffee and croissants.

The day I was there, we were constantly accosted by a swarm of ladybirds!  I have never seen the like.  Red and yellow ones, both, were on the tables and thronging the doorway to the museum.  I didn’t manage a photo because I was too busy rescuing them and guiding them on a better flight path.  I can only surmise the warm weather had brought them out to play.

The view from Castle Rock

The view from Castle Rock

The views are wide ranging

The views are expansive

Overlooking 'Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem' below.

Overlooking ‘Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem’ below.

Time for a little history.  Nottingham Castle sits on a natural promontory, known as Castle Rock, with cliffs up to 40 metres high.  Back in the Middle Ages it was a major fortress and royal residence.  As all good castles are, it was strategically located, near to a crossing of the River Trent. Close to the royal hunting grounds at Tideswell and Sherwood, it once even had its own deer park.  Whilst Richard the Lionheart was away on his Third Crusade, it is thought that the castle was left derelict ,and was occupied by the Sheriff of Nottingham.  In the legends of Robin Hood, the castle often features in showdowns between the Sheriff and this popular outlaw.

Sadly the castle went into decline, and was largely demolished in 1649.  A mansion was built on the site, but this was burnt out by rioters in 1831.  The story of this and much of the castle’s intriguing history is told in the Castle Museum, opened in 1878- the first municipal art gallery in the UK outside of London.  Just before we step inside, let’s admire the elegant pebble mosaics set into the courtyard.

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I don’t intend to linger too long in the museum.  We each have our own pace and interests.  Let me just give you a small sample of what you might find inside.

Beautiful and original wrought iron gates
From around the county
Exquisite glassware
And extraordinary chess pieces
Regimental silverware
War memorabilia
And uniforms

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Several galleries were given over to the exhibition, documenting life in Nottinghamshire during the wars.  Even in black and white I found many of the images harrowing, and moved swiftly downstairs to learn of the castle’s history.  I won’t spoil it for you by giving away too many details but it is an atmospheric space, and a story well told.

You must be about ready for that half I promised you?  We’ll wander down the hill, past the place that was once a thriving Lace Market.  ‘Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem‘, dating back to 1189, must be one of the most unusual pubs I’ve ever been in.  It is set into the cliff face and is famous for its caves.  The rooms are unusual shapes, some with holes in the ceiling.  There was once a brewery in the lower caverns and there’s a route from there up into Nottingham Castle.  You can actually book a tour of the cellars, which are part of Nottingham’s extensive cave network. Affectionately known as ‘The Trip’, the name derives from a ‘trip’, meaning a stop or resting place on a journey.

The former Lace Market

The former Lace Market

The cliff face
‘The Trip’
Looking up!
One of the smallest rooms
What a strange ceiling!!
But look! A friendly face. Cheers, Lisa!

But look! A friendly face. Cheers, Lisa!

As always, I have included links for those who would like more information, or might be near enough to visit.  I hope you enjoyed meandering around Nottingham Castle with me.  Not too strenuous, was it?

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I’m ready to put the kettle on now and enjoy the great contributions I’ve received to Jo’s Monday walk this week.  If you have a walk you’d like to share, do please join in.  For details, just click on the link or on my logo.  Many thanks to all my walkers this week.

Firstly, Noe takes us back to South Sulawesi.  The scenery is quite amazing!  :

West coast of Gusung Island 2

And for something completely different, how about Glasgow Necropolis, with Violet Sky  :

City of the Dead

Amy has saved us some delicious remnants of Autumn foliage  :

Lost Maples

While Drake is busy, just being himself, in Liverpool  :

Walking Sculptures

And, all the way from Australia, we have Jude joining us again.  A bit special!  :

A walk in the Blue Mountains

That’s it till next Monday.  Have a great week and happy walking to you all!

124 comments

    1. It’s more of a grand mansion than a real castle, isn’t it, Andrew, but it does have an interesting history. The basement is fairly recently updated and I enjoyed the exhibits. I’d really quite like to do the cellar tour, even though I’m not fond of caves. Excellent pub!
      I didn’t know it was Carcassonne, though I surmised it wasn’t Nottingham. 🙂

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  3. Loved your walk today Jo, as Nottingham has some special memories for me – my first serious boyfriend was from Beeston. I travelled down there many times from Lancashire but never went round the castle 😦 Silly me, other things on my mind I guess…but, I was only 17 at the time!
    After seeing all your wonderful photos, I wish I had now, it looks an interesting place to visit and wander round, and the gardens are beautiful. Those pebble mosaics are so interesting and so well done.
    Thanks for the memories!

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  5. Those mosaics are elegantly beautiful. The whole post is a feast of image and history, and legend of course. It still has a feel of the Robin Hood era (insofar as I’m qualified to say!) A pub with caves sounds like a doubling of pleasure.

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    1. The pub was a treat, Meg. 🙂 We were about to head home and I sort of loitered in the doorway looking. ‘Do you want to go in?’ Lisa asked. Living there she takes it all for granted and assumed I’d been in before, but I hadn’t. Trying to take photos without disturbing the drinkers was a challenge. I’d love to go back and do the cellar tour one day. 🙂

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  6. Cheers to you and to Lisa, Jo! I love your photos of the expansive views and the pebble mosaics. And that place is really odd with the strange shaped rooms and holes in the ceilings. It’s always fun to go along on a walk with you. 🙂

    Maybe by next Monday I can participate in your walk by telling about the two walks I took through the rice terraces north of Guilin. I’m swamped with work right now, but hopefully I can join by next Monday.

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    1. Hiya sweetheart! 🙂 Just so glad to hear from you Cathy, what with the stomache problems and all. I was going to hunt you out on FB this morning to check you’re ok. No worries about the walks. Get there when you can. Hugs! 🙂

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      1. Thanks, Jo. Hopefully I’ll start feeling normal again soon. I think I’m slowly getting better; some Imodium helped a bit, but my stomach is still unsettled. I will start posting about my rice terrace visits soon. 🙂

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    1. It’s a totally different world, in that respect, isn’t it, Sam? But you know, we don’t have a Sydney or a Cairns and I count that a bit of a loss too. We really will have to arrange this swap someday, huh? 🙂 🙂

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  8. Thank you, Jo! I’ve not made it to Nottingham so it was lovely to get a glimpse of it. Except now I really want to go myself. 🙂 I know Dad visited when he was based at Loughborough University for a period of sabbatical in the late ’80s. And both Mum and Dad must have gone on one of their more recent trips because somewhere I have Robin Hood hats they brought back for the boys. Memories. 🙂

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    1. I’ve been searching for a while because I was sure I’d written about Nottingham before, but most of my visits there are specific to Lisa and her Steampunk lifestyle. Maybe on the Simonseeks website but I haven’t been there lately. Anyway, it’s a nice city. I was in Loughborough that same weekend too, and that was a first for me. My son-in-law’s mum lives there. 🙂

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  9. Lisa ? – which Lisa ?
    I’m frightfully sad to learn that there really IS no Nottingham castle any more. 😦
    Nevertheless, your usual excellent coverage of what is still a really interesting area, Jo: you’ve become a past master at these walks. I thank you !

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    1. Lovely Lisa, my 42 year old daughter who lives in Nottingham, Mrs. M. 🙂 I was visiting her for a weekend at the end of September when we did this walk. I’m all behind 🙂 🙂 Thank you, kind lady!

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      2. I shouldn’t admit it and she doesn’t look it. 🙂 I thought you’d met her before, Mrs. M. The wedding event with the Victorian costume and red hair? (re-dyed orange last year)

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  11. I so enjoyed our walk, Jo. It seems like an absolute age since I was in Nottingham. I’m sure I must have been taken to the castle as a child, but don’t remember it. Your photos of ‘The Trip’ sparked my interest, and I had to read more about it. What a rich history it has. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/citylife/ghostsandlegends/triptales_1.shtml I have to visit it one day when I go back to my home county. Lovely to see your daughter Lisa again. 🙂

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    1. Yes, it’s a much more interesting venue than I imagined, Ad. I’d never been in The Trip before and it was only when I got back and was checking websites myself that I realised about the Cellar walks. We had such a nice weekend together but I’d better put a cave tour on my list for next time. 🙂

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  12. Lovely walk Jo and what fun to see your daughter again. These are special times when one gets to hang out with the grown ‘kids’. Now can I ask a silly question? What is a ladybird?

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    1. That is a very silly question, Sue! I’m wracking my brains to think what you might call them. Mick suggests ladybugs? Small flying beetles, usually red with spots but sometimes yellow. The ‘swarm’ was very strange.

      Yes, it was a lovely day spent with Lisa. 🙂

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      1. Yes that’s it! We call them ladybugs. I thought that was likely it but then imagined you chasing birds out of doorways which I would have wanted video for. 🙂

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      2. 3 or 4 of the staff were standing in the doorway, gazing in perplexity at the bugs, Sue. They really were everywhere, including down the front of my shirt, so video-ing was out of the question 🙂 🙂

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  16. Such beautiful captures, I would love to check this place out! So much history, it’s fun to picture what it would have been like during that time period.

    For a hike through the woods in upstate New York, check out my recent post:

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      1. Thank you, Jo! Appreciate so much of your wonderful theme, which enable us to introduce interesting places and share photos. Glad you like this special dome. Amy, my friend, has gone through a lot. She just lost thousands of photos when her storage device crushed… I’ll be back to visit other walks. 🙂

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