Nottinghamshire history resoures for local histories and genealogists
The Stranger's Guide to Nottingham (1827)
ST. MARY'S CHURCH,
of which we give a spirited view as seen from the High-pavement called the mother church of the town, being the most ancient. Indeed the date of its erection is not known, but it is supposed to have been built in the 15th century. The ground on which it stands is twenty-three yards above the level of the meadows. It is in the form of a cross, and has a handsome square tower, in which is a musical peal of ten bells.—This church was originally all in the Gothic style, but in 1726, the west end was rebuilt, when the uniformity of the place was destroyed, the Doric order being substituted, and instead of the lofty pinnacles which used to adorn that end, a Grecian urn was substituted. The dimensions of this church are, in the inside, from east to west, two hundred and sixteen feet, from south to north in the centre, ninety-seven feet, in the chancel twenty-nine feet, and at the west end, or principal entrance, sixty-seven feet. The height of the steeple is one hundred and twenty-six feet, and of the aisles sixty feet. The porch on the south side, as seen in the annexed view, is a very ancient piece of workmanship, on the fluting of the pediment of which was sculptured red and white roses, some traces of which may even yet be discerned.—In the west gallery is an excellent organ, of great power, built by the celebrated Statelet; the instrument is supported by two Tuscan columns, which may be seen to advantage in the ante-church, and over the columns is a picture of David playing on his harp. There are many monumental inscriptions, for here are the tombs of the first and second Earls of Clare, dated 1637 and 1665, also the Earl Meath, who died in 1715. Many of the ancient family of the Plumptres are also interred here, and the mausoleum of the family of the Wrights is distinguished by many tablets. In the north window of the chancel, is the figure of St. Andrew, in stained glass, defended by a wire protector. There is service at halfpast ten and halfpast six every Sabbath, and the Vicar is the Rev. George Wilkins, D.D.Leaving this holy and consecrated ground, the stranger will do well to cross to the opposite side of the High-pavement, where is a narrow passage, called Malin-hill, which takes us to what is called the Long-stairs, that lead into Red-lion-street, formerly called Narrow-marsh. Instead of descending these stairs, we go a little way down the hill, where a most interesting scene is presented to the view. Immediately below, on a level with your feet, are the chimneys of a thousand houses; beyond these is a view of the meadows, the London road, &c, and to the east on the top of the hill, is to be seen the neat little church of Snenton, forming altogether a prospect highly gratifying to the stranger. We must now turn back into the High-pavement, where, nearly opposite the County-hall, is a street called Mary-gate, at the corner of which is the Old Angel public house, formerly known as Bugge-hall, the mansion of a family of that name, from whom are descended the Willoughby's, and several other distinguished families. Here, if the traveller pleases, he may stop, and partake of a fair sample of the potent liquor, so well known by the name of Nottingham ale.
"Nottingham ale, boys, Nottingham ale,
"No liquor on earth like Nottingham ale."
The cause of the superiority of this beverage, is ascribed to a variety of causes; by some to the very fine barley grown in this and the adjoining counties, by some to the water, by others to the fuel, and lastly, to the excel. lent rock cellars in which the drink is stored, almost every house, of any extent in the town, having a cellar hewn out of the rock belonging to it. Without stopping to settle the question, which would take us rather too long, we will go up Mary-gate, where, on the left-hand side, is the
when it says Red Lion Street, that is were Linda,s Family lived , the Derbyshire Boswells
and I was born were it says snenton, but truthfully I,m just a bit of a scrag end, but I love it
