Cave visitors have reported hearing voices and seeing shadows that are not attached to any earthly being. The caves also contained a dank dungeon, which housed rowdy criminals who were too dangerous to be held above ground. The Nottingham caves were once home to slums which were prone to frequent outbreaks of diseases such as tuberculosis, whooping cough, and smallpox. Many Nottingham residents believe several ghosts haunt the city’s caves. No dimly lit ancient cave system is complete without some good ghost stories. Visitors can view ancient workshops, former cramped slums, and an air raid shelter that withstood a brutal World War II bombing raid which destroyed much of above ground Nottingham. Since 1978, visitors have been invited to tour the caves. Thankfully, an effort to conserve the caves and turn them into an ancient monument was successful. In the 1960s, huge sections of the Nottingham Caves were very nearly filled with concrete when construction of the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre threatened to seal off one of the major entry points to the caves. There is compelling evidence that the residents of nearby Nottingham Castle used the cave system to place beer orders, which were delivered to the castle. The proprietors of the inn used the caves on which it is perched to brew beer. As the name implies, Ye Old Trip to Jerusalem was founded to quench the thirst of soldiers headed to participate in the Crusades in the Christian holy land. There is a great debate about where England’s oldest inn is located, but many historians claim that there is solid evidence that Ye Old Trip to Jerusalem has been around the longest. One of Nottingham’s most famous caves is located below Ye Old Trip to Jerusalem Inn, which was founded in 1189 AD. Thankfully, there are several spots where curious travelers can explore the caves, and even relax with a swanky gin cocktail in a fancy subterranean bar. Vast networks of Nottingham’s cave system remain unexplored and forgotten by time. Archeologists estimate that there are over 800 caves in Nottingham which have served as dwellings, jail cells, wine and beer cellars, tanneries, and air raid shelters. Nottingham is also home to a vast network of man-made caves that were arduously carved out of sandstone during the early Middle Ages. Afterwards, you can try your hand at panning for 'gold'.The English city of Nottingham is most famous for being the home of mythical Robin Hood and his band of mischievous yet gold-hearted Merry Men. So why not get take a trip down a genuine mine shaft?Īt Matlock Bath's Peak District Lead Mining Museum in Derbyshire you can take a guided tour into an authentic 1920s lead and fluorspar mine, which is cramped, slippery, and gives a great idea of what working underground must have been like. Mining has played a huge part in the East Midlands' heritage. The caves here are a UNESCO World Heritage site, as they feature cave art designed by ancient Ice Age hunters.Īrchaeologists believe they were occupied between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. If it's history you're after, the Creswell Crags in north Nottinghamshire go back further than most sites. So make sure you put your hiking boots on.
You'll need to park up and take a walk to find them to explore though. And in recent years the site has been linked to 9th century king Saint Hardulf who is buried five miles away at Breedon on the Hill. Records of the caves exist as far back as 1658 when it was mentioned in the Repton Church records.
The caves at Anchor Church, Ingleby, used to be part of the River Trent (Image: Wendy Baldwin) Calke AbbeyĪfter taking a tour of the stately home that time forgot, visitors to the National Trust property on the Leicestershire-Derbyshire border can head into the dingy brewhouse tunnel to leave the property. While you can explore a small section with a slight bend in the middle, the tunnel is rumoured to continue on to the town's historic White Hart and Bulls Head pubs in Market Street. Running underneath the walls of the castle made famous in Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe is an underground passage which runs between the tower and the kitchen. But under the earthworks of the town's partially ruined castle there's also an interesting feature to take a look around. The ruins of Ashby's fortifications might define the town's skyline. READ MORE: Guided 'mindfulness' walks at Leicestershire beauty spot Beacon Hill aim to reconnect people to nature Ashby Castle We've rounded up some of the most interesting and unusual places to delve into. In and around the county there are a number of caves, caverns and tunnels which adventurous types can explore. Rain might threaten to spoil your weekend plans from time to time.
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