Hidden underground waterway in Nottingham gets a facelift

Unknown to many Nottingham residents, there’s a hidden world of drainage channels and redirected streams beneath our city streets.

Nottingham-based Pelham Homes have teamed up with Nottingham City Council, Severn Trent Water, and Norse Homes to preserve one of these historic treasures.

For over a century, the underground channel, ‘Beck Valley Culvert’, has played an important role in the city’s water infrastructure around Trent Lane. It channels the flow of water from Beck Valley stream underground, playing a critical role in Nottingham’s drainage system.

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The endpoint of the Victorian culvert — which opens out into the River Trent, next to the new Pelham Waterside II residential development — had seen better days. Now, thanks to a sensitive refurbishment, it has been preserved for future generations.

Severn Trent Water funded the project and commissioned contracted partner Graham Asset Management to carry out the restoration and structural repairs.

Norse Homes, the developer at Pelham Waterside II, supported the repairs, ensuring that the work was historically accurate. A skilled stonemason helped source replacement coping stones and restored the original wall and plaque to their original condition.

“We feel privileged to have been able to support and help fund the restoration of such a historic feature in Nottingham. This will ensure it’s good for the next 100 years!” said Carl Wilkinson, Director at Norse Homes.

Lisa Raine, Project Manager at Pelham Homes, expressed her pride in contributing to the project: “Along with Norse Homes, we’ve funded the restoration of the Beck Valley Storm Water Culvert foundation stone plaque, which is set in the wall at the end of Trent Lane. This really does make a lovely feature for the residents now living on Trent Lane.”

The Beck Valley Culvert has been sensitively restored and is well set to continue serving Nottingham for decades to come, as well as providing a unique historical landmark for the community to enjoy.

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