12th October 2008 - by Ann Coveney
The Queen of the Midlands, England
Nottingham - Castle and Pubs
Nottingham is getting some bad press recently with inner city
problems of gun crime and burglary. Whilst there is no doubt
these problems exist, Nottingham remains for me a great city
full of interesting places to see both old and new.
Nottingham is located in the centre of England and is often
referred to as The Queen of The Midlands. The City has always
been strategically important.
Nottinghamshire countryside provided good hunting grounds for
Kings and the forest provided good shelter for outlaws most
notably the famous Robin Hood. Although much of the forest has
disappeared now, Nottinghamshire still boasts some of the
finest woodlands in England with ancient oaks, the oldest of
these being the Major Oak. Legend has it that Robin Hood hid in
the trunk of this very tree to escape the evil Sheriff of
Nottingham.
The city of Nottingham has a rich and colourful history. Here
are just a couple of places to wet your appetite.
Nottingham Castle
At the heart of the city stands Nottingham Castle, set on a
rocky outcrop of sandstone high above the city. The original
castle was erected here by orders of William the Conqueror in
1067.
Henry 1 later replaced the wooden structure with an imposing
stone castle. This was to remain for hundreds of years as one
of the most important castles in England.
The notorious Sheriff of Nottingham lived here when Richard The
Lionheart was on the 'Third Crusade', providing the setting for
the legendary final showdown between the Sheriff and the Robin
Hood.
The castle provided a rallying point for Charles 11 during the
English Civil War. Charles erected the Royal Standard near the
castle to mark the beginning of the war. A stone in the centre
of the roadway at Standard Hill marks the spot.
There are a labyrinth of caves and tunnels under the castle.
The most famous of these is Mortimer's Hole where this usurper
to the throne of Edward 111 was captured and later
executed.
The original castle was all but destroyed. What you see today
is a seventeenth century mansion built on top of the original
site. Since the late nineteenth century it has been a museum of
world renown, housing thousands of artefacts and art
collections. With its dungeons and children's activities
Nottingham Castle is well worth a visit.
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
Carved out of the sandstone rock beneath Nottingham Castle this
is reputedly the oldest pub in the world. Established in 1189,
the inn provided rest and refreshment to the Crusaders of
Richard the Lionheart during the 'Third Crusades'.
Walking inside is like taking a trip back in time. The pub is
associated with many fascinating legends which you can discover
over a fine pint of 'real ale'. The pub is said to be haunted -
you have been warned!
Nottingham by Night
Whether you want to relax with a drink and good conversation,
take in a show or party the night away - Nottingham has it
all!
Forget the negative, visit Nottingham with an open mind, a
sense of humour and watch out for the famous Nottingham welcome
"Hey up me Ducks"...
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Ann Coveney is a freelance writer and part time
school teacher. She can be hired to write
articles on a wide range of topics. The web
site she uses the most for low cost travel and
hotel booking is http://www.askvicki.co.uk
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Article Source: http://www.bb-articles.com
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