Welcome to Nottingham

The city of Nottingham is located on the River Trent, in the county of Nottinghamshire, approximately 128 miles north of London and 59 miles north-east of Birmingham.

The city has a population of around 271,400. Administratively the City of Nottingham covers an area of approximately 75 sq kms.

Internationally renowned for its associations with Robin Hood, Nottingham is both a thriving modern city and an ancient place which has played a pivotal role in the history of Britain. It was here, for example, in 1642 that Charles I raised his standard against Parliament which signalled the start of the English Civil War, and later the Luddite Rebellion, against the new technology introduced by the Industrial Revolution, was begun in Nottingham. Perhaps its most famous building is Nottingham Castle which stands on a rock above the city, but other notable historic buildings here include Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, dating from the late 12th century and reputedly the oldest pub in the country, and the stately 15th century church of St Mary whose spire rises 126ft above Lace Market. As one would expect from a major city there are excellent shopping, leisure and entertainment, and visitor facilities.

The town's history dates from the 6th century when there was a small Saxon settlement here known as Snotta ing ham. Late in the 9th century the Danes turned the town into a fortified settlement or burgh. In 920 the town was captured by Edward the Elder who built a bridge across the Trent. His succcessor, Aethelstan, established a mint here. A wooden castle was built in 1067 by William the Conqueror to guard the town, which grew rapidly after this time. In 1155 Henry II granted the town a charter. From 1284 the town had two annual fairs, as well as a weekly market, and in this year Nottingham gained its first mayor. During the 13th century friars arrived in the town and a hospital and two leper hostels cared for the sick and poor. A large Jewish community existed here at the same time, but all Jews were forced to leave the country in 1290. During the Civil War, in 1642, Charles I raised his standard on a hill to the north of the town and called on men from the town to join his cause. However, by November Parliamentarian troops held the town, and continued to do so for the rest of the war despite attacks by the Royalists in 1643 and 1644. In 1651, after the war, the castle was destroyed by order of Parliament. During the 18th century the town expanded rapidly. The hosiery industry boomed and lace and salt glazed stoneware was being made. By this time Nottingham was a large and important town. There was piped water available, oil lamps to light the streets, a theatre and general hospital. In 1802 the population is recorded as exceeding 28,000. In 1831 there was a riot in the town when the House of Lords rejected the Great Reform Bill; this was intended to increase the number of people who could vote. The owner of the castle, the Duke of Northumberland, was one of the people who opposed the Bill. The townspeople were so angry that they burned it down, and it remained in ruins until the town council took it over 44 years later to rebuild as a museum and art gallery. The first railway arrived in the town in 1839. In 1897 Nottingham was granted city status by Queen Victoria. The once small, fortified burgh had finally come of age. In the 19th century the town had become the centre of the lace industry and home to big companies such as Boots, Players and Raleigh; but in the 20th century the new city saw huge social, economic and technological changes.

Historically, during the Middle Ages, the town's economy was based upon wool. By the 19th century, hosiery and lace were the most important industries in Nottingham. At the end of the 20th century the main industries were textiles, tobacco, bicycles, pharmaceuticals and printing.

The name Nottingham derives from the Anglo-Saxon 'Snottingaham' meaning for "Snot's people", Snot being a local chieftain. The S has thankfully been lost over the course of history.