The Caves - Who lived in them?

[annmck]

Rock Hole....LOOGSHURY!!!...wun i wer a lass we dreeeeemed of livin' in a rock 'ole.....

 

[tedscout]

Don't get me started annmck. I'm a Monty Python tragic from a long line of Monty Python tragics 

[weste]

I did n't vote for 'em.

[Ruskie]

The Nottingham caves 'tour' gets a slamming on Trip Advisor. 

[Sherwood]

In the mid-late 1970s I was involved with a group called 'Nottingham Historical Arts Society' that concerned itself with 'digging the caves' for the sake of archaeological interest and preservation.  By 'digging' I mean emptying the caves of the soil and other waste with which they were filled.

The unique thing about Nottingham caves is that they were man-made, carved into the Bunter sandstone on which most of the city stands.  They were often below public houses (used as store rooms for the ale due to constant temperature).  Other were used as tanneries.  There are many connected in 'complexes'.

The complex under the Broad Marsh shopping centre (near Middle Hill) was discovered during excavations to build the centre, and the developer was persuaded to take measures to avoid total destruction (they would have just filled them with concrete to ensure good foundations).  For several years the access was via an external door near to where the new Contemporary Arts Centre is.  That was until someone had the idea of commercialising them into a visitor attraction.

Sherwood.

[Sherwood]

There is another complex under Peel Street, one under Cliff Road and a further one under Bridlesmith Gate.  I went 'digging' at Bridlesmith Gate and Cliff Road.

There were often wells and cesspits.  At one site there was a well right next to a cesspit.  We figured that 'stuff' must have seeped from the cesspit into the well.

Under Bridlesmith Gate I remember excavating lots of earth and broken Victorian china and clay pipes.  At the bottom  of a cesspit were the bones of a dog.  Did it fall in or was it simply dumped after dying?  Who knows!  The 'soil' we took out of the cesspit was black loamy compost.

It got quite hot and humid working down there so my mate rigged up piped fresh air (12 volt car blower motors and pipe made from strips of black bin liners.  Worked a treat!  He also sorted out proper lighting because we had been working like miners with battery lamps on out safety helmets.

Sherwood.

[Ruskie]

Fascinating stories Sherwood - thanks for telling us about your digs. 

[copperbeech5]

Hi Sherwood,

So, would you say that the caves are worth a visit? 

I feel slightly apprehensive in that I am a bit claustrophobic, but feel quite fascinated by the thought of them, so what would you say - are they a must??

Thanks,
Copperbeech5

[Ruskie]

Sherwood, from what you say it sounds like the touristy part of the caves is possibly a bit of an' afterthought' to exploit the caves commercially (nothing wrong with that - at least they were saved from the developer's cement  ). Are they less interesting than some of the other caves in the area? Have you been in any other caves? I take it that many/most are privately owned?