subject: Nottingham - Great Architectural Buildings And More [print this page] The city of Nottingham is most recognized for its associated with the legend of Robin Hood however a lot more went on here then stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Nottingham developed some famous bicycles and also had a thriving lace making industry. During Anglo-Saxon times it was a section of the Mercia Kingdom. The town did not grow until the Vikings invaded and constructed many fortifications.
The castle was constructed of sandstone as this was in abundance in this area. Eventually the settlement grew around the castle until it was large enough for a market square. This market square played an important role to the town for many centuries in the future. A large part of Nottingham's industry focused on exporting religious sculptures made of plaster.
During the industrial revolution the textile industry became very important and Nottingham became famous around the world for its lace making. At one point in time it held three or more markets per week, the most in Europe. After the end of the World Wars the textile industries slowly faded away as they did throughout the country. Nottingham was also known for having some of the worst slums, only second to India.
You can find a range of buildings in Nottingham that are from different architectural periods. Some of the earliest designs are from 110. Some of the famous architects that designed buildings in Nottingham include Alfred Waterhouse, Thomas chambers Hine and Watson Fothergill. The Theatre Royal is a great example of Victorian style and the Albert Hall was built in during the Gothic revival.
Nottingham's market square is still one of the largest found in the United Kingdom. An important part of the market square is the council house which has some beautiful baroque columns as well as statues in the forms of lions that guard the market square. The ground floor of the main market building contains very high end boutiques and there is additional shopping along the side streets that lead away from the market square.
A fun section of town to visit is Hockley Village which is called the SoHo of Nottingham. There are many art galleries, art house cinemas and independent stores and restaurants in this part of town. It is very modern section of town but still holds many buildings that are quite old.
Another beautiful building to visit is Wollaton hall which houses the Natural History Museum as well as a 500 acre park. This building was originally a Tudor mansion.
