discovering nottingham

Discovering Nottingham

Rebranding, Regeneration and RenewalP.S.Fox. MMX

The Geographical Association P. S. Fox. MMX

Introduction

• These photographs were taken as part of the Rebranding Nottingham Fieldwork visit on Thursday 8th April 2010 to illustrate the changes that have been constant in the development of Nottingham in its growth as a city.

• Some photographs and materials have been added to provide an additional information and background.


Location and site


South Prospect of Nottingham about 1750 looking towards Castle and St Mary’s Hill across the Meadows and the River Leen.This prospect illustrates the site of the city, north of the River Trent on two small hills; Castle Hill and St. Mary’s Hill.Source: Nottingham City Library


John Speed’s map of part of Nottingham 1610

Source: Nottingham County Library

This map shows Nottingham as ‘the garden city’. The central square is marked as G . Notice the orchards and the parks.The River Leen is shown in the southern part of the map.


Nottingham 1750 looking from the South towards St Mary’s Church.The age when Nottingham was seen as a ‘garden city’Source: Nottingham City Library

Nottingham from the south 1750


Map Pre 1790Gardens and open spacesCastle now Duke of Newcastle's MansionLace Market – Plumtre House Gardens

No Canals or Railways – pre 1839

The enclosure of Nottingham was later than many other cities [1845] which had two main consequences – overcrowding and the development of industry in surrounding settlements.

Source: Nottingham City Library


Salmon’s Map 1861

Source: Nottingham County Library

This map shows some of the industrialisation and overcrowding that took place in Victorian Nottingham. The largest church shown – to the right [East] is St Mary’s – in the Lace Market. The Market Square is in the top left [North West] of the map.


Nottingham Gateway


Nottingham Railway Station Opened in 1904 as a replacement for two previous stations by the Midland Railway.The railway was opened to Nottingham on 30th May 1839, the line to Lincoln 4th August 1846.The area between the Railway Station and the city centre called ‘The Gateway’ is due to be redeveloped – the Broad Marsh Shopping centre is to be expanded.


The Tram Viaduct looking towards the Lace Market

The Nottingham Tram system used some of the route of the old railway route to the old Victoria Station – an example of reuse. The tram is to be extended to the west and south.‘Transport 2000’ resulted in the limitation of traffic in the centre of the city.Nottingham is soon to introduce car parking charges for workers within the city too.The Chapel in the background is High Pavement Chapel built on the site of a previous chapel started in 1691.


Nottingham Canal – looking east

The Nottingham Canal, opened in 1792 to allow coal owners to trans-ship coal to Nottingham form the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Coalfields was lined with factories and wharves. Now on the right is Capital One part of which occupies the old Boots print works which was opened in 1952 on a bombed out site. On the left is new offices and businesses not yet opened. [2010]

Location : Bridge over Nottingham Canal adjacent Capital One HQ


Capital One Headquarters Building

Reflecting the development on the North side of the canal.


High and Middle Pavement

New buildings and refurbishment


Nottingham Contemporary

This art gallery, on High Pavement was opened in 2009 to provide an additional attraction to this area and to the city for tourists.


Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery

The Gallery features and outside piazza and a café. This area had been derelict for many years before this was constructed on this site.An example of the reuse of a derelict site.


Drury Hill – 1960 one of the many slum areas of Nottingham in Victorian times – Drury Hill was demolished to make way for the Broad Marsh Shopping Centre – 1965.Source: Nottingham City Library


Weekday CrossThis was the trading centre of the old Saxon settlement on the main route into Nottingham from the Trent Bridge and the south. Now this is the entrance to the Lace Market area for tourists.The area was restored by the Nottingham Civic Society in 1993.


Middle PavementThese high class Georgian Houses, owned in their time by the rich gentry have been repurposed into up-market high class ‘niche’ shops and services.


Middle PavementPaul Smith’s Shop – Willoughby House 1738 -1743This high quality Georgian House was built for Rothwell Willoughby one of Nottingham’s first bankers.In 2004 it was refurbished for Paul Smith – a local fashion designer and now acts as a shop.An example preservation and reuse.


Pitcher and Piano

This Chapel has had many uses over the past decade – from Chapel to lace museum. It is now a bar.


Shire Hall, High PavementThis building , constructed in 1770-1772 and refurbished many times acted as the Crown court, Jail and place of execution. In recent years it has become the ‘Galleries of Justice’ one of the only judicial museums in the country – with court rooms and cells on view. It is thought that an original Saxon Hall occupied this site in 1375.


St Mary’s Church, Lace MarketThis is one of the oldest churches in Nottingham at the centre of the Saxon community and reputedly now one of the largest Parish churches in the country. Probably started as a Saxon minster in the 12 or 13th century but restored and enlarged in 1846-50.Built with money from the town guilds.


St Mary’s Church


Original doorway in the church wall on High Pavement


National Ice Stadium

Built on the site of a 1930s ice stadium on the kudos of the performance of Torvill and Dean. Half funded by the National Lottery Fund. Opened in 2000 at a cost of £40 million it seats 7000.It has no car parking facilities because the City Council were keen that it should be accessed by Public Transport!


The Lace Market

Redevelopment of a Victorian Area – improving what there is


The Lace Market – BroadwayBuilt in the mid nineteenth century to be the centre for lace marketing [not manufacture]The area became very run down in the 1960s and was made into a Conservation area and later transformed into apartments, clubs, bars and small businesses. This was funded by the Historic Buildings Council and a development company.


Broadway – Lace Market


As part of the refurbishment of this area a multi-story car park was constructed which is illustrated here but designed to be ‘in keeping’ with the other buildings in the area.

Stoney Street


The Adams Building – Lace MarketBuilt 1854-1855 and redeveloped between 1996- 1998 with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and The European Development Fund and English Partnerships – cost £16.5 million. The building designed by the Nottingham architect T.C. Hine is now part of New College Nottingham.An example of refurbishment and reuse.


The Adams Building


Hockley

Hockley is a small niche shopping and entertainment area mainly developed in recent years on the popularity of Nottingham as a student city.This shop was one of the first used by the Boots Company – when it was built it was one of the most advanced in terms of design in the country.


The Victoria Shopping Centre

City shopping attraction and rehousing


Victoria CentreThe Victoria Centre was one of the first large indoor shopping centres built in Britain – 1965 – 1972.It was build on the site of the Victoria Railway Station complex – the clock tower remains.A high rise block of council flats towers over the centre – to provide accommodation for some of the people displaced by the redevelopment of the slum areas of Nottingham


The Entertainment and Education Quarter

Theatre, Concert Hall, Cinema Complex, Nottingham Trent

University


Nottingham Theatre Quarter

Multiplex Cinema Village 2001 built on the site of the Nottingham Evening Post – printing plant.Now a 16 screen cinema complex with clubs and bars.


Cinema and entertainment complex


Theatre Royal and Concert Hall Complex

The Theatre Royal was built when the city was enclosed after 1845 north of Backside. The theatre was opened in 1865 and was bought and restored by the city council in 1969. This was one of Britain's first theatre restoration projects and has been followed by many others.


Theatre Royal Nottingham 1860 – 1865.The redevelopment of the Theatre Royal in the 1970s formed the basis for the development of a entertainment complex in this area of the city.The Theatre Royal is an example of building which was remodelled and extended to meet modern requirements without compromising the original interiors.


Theatre Royal


Tram route – Market Street

This street, Market Street, was cut through some of the worst slum housing areas in Nottingham in 1865 when the theatre was built at its Northern end. Market Street links the Market Square to parliament Street. It is now traffic free – with exception of trams and buses.


Old Victorian Area


Hurt’s Yard – Burgess Plots

This is one of the few alleyways still left which shows the pattern of building in Victorian Nottingham – this alley runs from Parliament Street [called Back Side] to the Market Square.This area, once one of the most overcrowded in Nottingham has undergone considerable re-development with the exception of this example.Many of the shops here are closed and boarded up but ripe for development in a Dickensian theme.


Hurt’s Yard


Long Row and Market Square

Improve and reuse


Long RowLong Row was one of Nottingham's most important streets. Originally colonnaded this is where almost every conceivable type of service could be found twenty four hours a day. Most of the shops extend into caves below. Competition from the two large shopping centres – Broad Marsh and the Victoria Centre has resulted in this area becoming to some extent eclipsed although the Market Square still proves to the be the main focus of the city.


King and Queen StreetKing and Queen Street extend from the Market Square to Parliament Street in 1891-1892. The statue of Brian Clough is a recent addition to this area celebrating his links with the city.The building in the background is the Prudential Assurance building – 1893-1898, restored 1991


Queen’s Chambers – Long Row

This important building was designed by the local architect – Watson Fothergill who designed and built many Nottingham buildings – especially in ‘The Park’.This Tudorbethan Gothic building was opened in 1897. It has had a variety of uses.


Market Square Old Market Square – Reconstruction 2005 -2006Gustafson PorterThe Old Market Square lies at the core of the city. It remained a Market until 1920s when the Council House was rebuilt. The Goose fair was held in the Square for many centuries until the fair was moved to The Forest.The Square was surrounded by walls with many steps and the vision was to redevelop it into a single level area which could be used for a variety of different events. Here it is occupied by a large Ferris wheel.


Market Square

The Council House was rebuilt as part of the Nottingham City plan to upgrade the city in the 1920s. It was designed by T. Cecil Howitt and opened 22nd May 1929. It is modelled on Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele with a dome not unlike St Paul’s but only 200ft high.The clock bell is called ‘Little John’


Uses of the Market Square


Old Market Square ReusedSummer 2009Nottingham by the sea!Photographs P. S. Fox


Bell Inn – Market Square

This is thought to be the oldest Inn in Nottingham. Part of it lies on the site of a Carmelite Friary. It was re-fronted in 1820.It has a vast cave complex under it.


St James’s Street

St James’s Street links the Market Square and Maid Marion Way. It is a terrace of early 19th shops and houses.


1960s Development

Improve access but at what cost?


Maid Marion Way – looking North

Maid Marion Way slashed its way across the western part of the city centre in 1960 cutting off the Castle from the Market Square. It has been said that it would have been a great embarrassment to Maid Marion!The City Council have worked hard to allow pedestrians a better route across it with crossings.


Maid Marion Way – Looking South


The Castle


Nottingham Castle Gate House

Nottingham Castle stands on a Sherwood Sandstone Hill to the West of the city centre. It was constructed by William Peveril [son of William I] 1067-8. It was used as a Royal Castle by Henry II, Henry III, Edward III, Edward IV, Richard I and King John.By 1525 it was a ruin which was bought and redeveloped by the Duke of Newcastle, William Cavendish as a copy of a house in Antwerp.It was damaged by reform rioters in 1831 and remodelled by T.C. Hine 1875-8 as one of the first municipal galleries in the country which it remains.


Nottingham Castle Gate House

The only part of the original castle that remains is the base of the Gate House and the curtain walls.


Severns – Castle GateThis house built in 1340 was a restaurant on Middle Pavement until 1969 when the Broad Marsh shopping centre was constructed. It was dismantled and moved to this new location.


The Olde Trip to Jerusalem – Castle GateThis is thought by some to be the oldest inn in Nottingham but it is thought that this inn did not open until 1618 not the 1189 displayed. It was not called the Trip to Jerusalem originally.However, it probably is on the site of the Castle brewery.

Brew house Yard


1919 redevelopment


Newcastle House – Castle Boulevard

Newcastle House – 1932 -1933.This factory and offices was one of the first to be built using concrete mushroom columns with an outer skin. The building was constructed as part of the redevelopment of Castle Boulevard in the 1920s.To protect the building from demolition a conservation area was drawn around it!


Castle Boulevard – looking west

Castle Boulevard was part of Nottingham City Councils Post War reconstruction scheme [1919] which also manifested in twenty new housing estates and an outer ring road!


Gunn and Moore Ltd.Located in a small factory off Castle Boulevard this internationally known firm relocated to an out of town industrial complex. Its site is now occupied by high quality apartments.


The Canal Corridor and Castle Marina


The Nottingham Canal Corridor Redevelopment.The canal side route was refurbished in the late 1990s. As a ‘green route’ from Nottingham to Beeston via Lenton which could be used by cyclists and pedestrians.


Nottingham Canal – looking west


Nottingham from Castle Meadow looking east


Castle Meadow Retail Park

This Retail Park is part of the much larger mixed development that has taken place on the site of the Nottingham railway sidings in the last twenty years.The site not only provides a retail experience but also has offices, hotels, restaurants, a marina and many different types of residential properties including a gated community.


Castle Marina – Castle Meadow – constructed on the Nottingham Canal


NG2

The redevelopment of a factory site


NG 2 The redevelopment and branding of the Royal Ordnance Factory site – a extension to the CBD.This site was meadow land until 1915 when a large munitions factory was constructed here to produce shell cases for the First World War bombardment. Many unemployed lace workers, especially women were employed.

NG2 redevelopment site


NG2

NG2 has been developed on the site of the Royal Ordnance Factory as an extension to a corridor which runs from the city centre.This is a mixed development of businesses and retain outlets [Homebase]The area has been designed for easy access and is on the route of the tram line extension from the railway Station.


Castle Meadow

The Castle viewed from the south – unknown dateSource: Nottingham City Library


Ordnance factory Nottingham

Castle

The Park

Map to show the ROF site in NG2


30 September 1915Royal Ordnance FactoryCastle Meadow – RightAbove- The production of guns during the Second World WarSource: Nottingham City Library The Geographical Association P. S. Fox.

MMX

Examples of the uses now found on the ROF site including Experian – the credit rating agency. Almost as many people are employed on this site now as were employed by the Royal Ordnance Factory.


Castle Marina – Castle View


Castle Wharf

From industry to apartments, civic buildings and entertainment


View ‘Nottingham’ by Joseph Mallord William Turner which shows the Castle Wharf area

http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=72596&searchid=25313&tabview=image




1923 Castle Warf – Looking North towards the Castle – showing part of the railway good yard and the Gunn and Moore Factory


Nottingham Canal - redevelopment


Inland Revenue Headquarters1992- 1995 Hopkins ArchitectsThe move to decentralise many of the Governments functions resulted in this development which was the result of an architectural competition. Six blocks and an amenity building were constructed employing 2000 people. Tree lined streets provide for car parking.


Inland Revenue Headquarters 1992-1995Government relocated several departments from London – this is an example. 2000 employees were relocated to this site. The original plans for the site were strongly opposed and resulted in a competition – this is the result.Designed by Hopkins Architects the building complements the castle in its design with round turrets and several different blocks.The building was designed to be environmentally friendly too.


Inland Revenue HeadquartersUtility building


British Waterways warehouseBuilt 1919 as part of the City Redevelopment plan.Now converted into offices, restaurants and apartments – by Franklin Ellis 1998 -2000


Magistrates Courts Complex

The Magistrates Courts were moved from a Victorian building to the North of the city centre to this canal side location – 1992- 1995


Fellows Morton and Clayton


‘Little Venice’

‘It’s Just like Venice’ – Paul Morel – Sons and LoversLike many cities Nottingham rediscovered its waterfront in the 1970s and was tidied up making it much more attractive to developers.


Fellows Morton and Clayton


How do we measure redevelopment?

• Sustainability –• Environment – of building, of its use, of getting to

it, • Social – Impact on people as a place of

employment, entertainment • Economic – Costs and benefits, employment• Political / Cultural – Respect for the cultural, are

people happy about it – what do they think?• Physical impact – on the area• Site – How does it relate to its site


Produced by

P. S. Fox.MMX


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