A fascinating historical archive, uncovering the multi-layered history of Nottingham’s famous caves, has been brought together by University of Nottingham researchers in a brand-new free exhibition.
Tales from the Caves: Exploring Nottingham’s Underground Stories, which runs from 3 October 2024 until 9 March 2025 at Lakeside Arts Weston Gallery, tells the stories of the people who have carved out a life within their walls for over a thousand years.
From medieval tanneries and breweries to the overcrowded slums and makeshift air-raid shelters of the 19th and 20th centuries, people have sought everything from refuge to recreation below ground, leaving behind traces of their lives to be uncovered by future generations.
The caves have also made their mark on the local imagination, as the backdrop to the dramatic capture of Roger Mortimer in a rock-cut passage beneath Nottingham Castle and the hatching of secret Luddite plots alike. These stories – whether legends of Robin Hood or adventures of latter-day urban explorers – have now been brought together for the first time.
Curated by Dr Chris King and Dr Charlotte May of the Department of Classics and Archaeology, and Manuscripts and Special Collections at the University of Nottingham, the exhibition showcases many hidden gems from the university’s rare books and archives which shine a light on life beneath the ground from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Dr May, said: “This exhibition brings together stories about Nottingham city centre’s extraordinary caves, from records of those who have used and excavated these subterranean spaces to the myths and legends that continue to fascinate people. Drawing on the collections from Manuscripts and Special Collections, we are delighted to share these stories and shed more light on what Nottingham’s caves mean to the city.”
Visitors can look forward to seeing Medieval manuscripts which provide tantalising evidence of how the caves were used in centuries gone by, whether as workshops or dwellings – or even as alleged dens of criminal activity. Detailed drawings by notable 19th century architect TC Hine, which show the majestic Park Tunnel and the mysterious rock holes also found on that estate, which have long been rumoured to be priest holes, are also a highlight.
The fascinating project benefitted from partnering with institutions and community groups across the city: a collaborative spirit of which is encapsulated nowhere as strongly as in one of the most intriguing exhibits, the Knight Jug, generously loaned by Nottingham City Museums and Galleries. This 13th century green glazed jug was discovered in 1955 by the Peverel Archaeological Group in a cave that had been used as a medieval midden – a dunghill where refuse was discarded. It features an intricate design of knights on horseback chasing stags and has a spout in the form of a bearded man, indicating that it was an object of some prestige.
Chloe Highton, archivist in Manuscripts and Special Collections, added: “We would like to thank the University of Nottingham Museum and Nottingham City Museums and Galleries as well as colleagues across both the university and the wider community for their valued contributions. It’s thanks to their hard work that members of the public now have the opportunity to find out more about this unique aspect of our city’s history.”
The exhibition runs from 3 October 2024 until 9 March 2025 at Lakeside Arts Weston Gallery and is free to enter. A series of talks in connection to Tales from the Caves will also be taking place.
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