Peggers Revisited
August 30, 2008 at 8:11 pm | Posted in Buildings, Derelict and Demolished | 1 CommentTags: peggers inn, public house, Sculpture, sneinton, southwell street
I went back to Peggers Inn in Sneinton the other day and took a few more pictures.
The first one shows the view through one of the windows (complete with reflections of nearby buildings). I was quite surprised how clean it looks considering that it has been closed for a couple of years.
The following four pictures show some of the decorative detail above the back windows. The first is a reminder of the pub’s original name – The Fox and Grapes. The others, I’m guessing, are Dionysus the greek god of wine, vegetation, pleasure and festivity (the Romans called him Bacchus). Dionysus was represented as an old man with a full beard or a young effeminate man and both depictions appear on Peggers
And a touch of irony:
The Boots Building
August 29, 2008 at 8:30 pm | Posted in Buildings | 2 CommentsTags: A N Bromley, boots, café, city centre, edwardian, jesse boot
This beautiful Edwardian building was designed by architect A N Bromley in 1904. It stands on the corner of High Street and Pelham Street, and was Jesse Boot’s flagship department store in Nottingham and the forerunner of all Boots larger stores. It included a café and even a library along with the usual toiletry, chemist and gift departments.
The Boots shop closed in 1972 and has since been used by a succession of other shops. I particularly remember a kitchen gadget shop with lots of wonderful gizmos and doodads spread over three floors plus, I believe, a café. I can’t for life of me remember what it was called though.
Memories of ‘The British School’ Arnold
August 27, 2008 at 11:06 am | Posted in Memories | 1 CommentTags: Arnold, British School, market, school
Stuart Frew writes a personal view of his time at The British School in Arnold.
The year was 1966. Here I was, a young laddie dawdling down through the streets of Arnold in Nottinghamshire down towards the main shopping place. I had my new school uniform on for the first time, never having worn one before it was causing no little irritation.
I remember walking past The British School before it was demolished to make way for Arnold Market. I always thought that it looked a very scary, and most probably haunted, place.
Peggers Inn
August 26, 2008 at 9:40 pm | Posted in Buildings, Derelict and Demolished | 4 CommentsTags: murder, peggers inn, public house, sneinton, southwell street
Peggers Inn was originally called The Fox and Grapes and known locally as Pretty Windows.
It stands on Southwell Street on the edge of the old Sneinton wholesale fruit and veg market and was permitted to open early to cater for the market workers who finished work in the early hours of the morning.
In 1963 it was the scene of a gruesome murder when the landlord, George Wilson, was stabbed 13 times. The crime remains unsolved despite the investigation being, at the time, Nottingham’s largest police operation and even the involvement of Scotland Yard.
Peggers Inn closed a couple of years ago after the fruit and veg market moved to Lenton
The East Midland Photographic Record has pictures of the pub taken in 1934, 1963 and 1988
UPDATE: I’ve added some more photos in Peggers Revisited
Heritage Open Days
August 26, 2008 at 2:39 pm | Posted in News | Leave a commentTags: events
Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission.
This year the open days take place on 11th to 14th September
There are several Nottinghamshire properties taking part in this year’s event including the Council House, Bromley House and garden and St Mary’s Church Tower (only open on Heritage Open Day biennially). Full details can be found at the Heritage Open Days website
This will be a great opportunity for Nottinghamshire photographers to visit places that are not normally accessible.
Sadly I will be at work on the dates in question, but I’d love to see any pictures taken posted to the Views Of Nottingham Flickr Group
41 Pilcher Gate
August 26, 2008 at 11:00 am | Posted in Buildings, Derelict and Demolished | 2 CommentsTags: georgian, lace market, pilcher gate, sherwin
This Georgian house stands on the corner of Pilcher Gate and St Mary’s Walk and was built around 1705 as a town house for the Sherwin family. It’s believed to be the one of the oldest residences in the City of Nottingham.
In The stranger’s guide through the town of Nottingham published in 1827 it was described as
a noble mansion, the seat of Wm. Trentham, Esq. It was the ancient family mansion of the Sherwins, and the ground on which it is built, is on a level with the Castle-yard
It’s currently in a sad state of disrepair and at one time there were plans before the council to demolish it.
Thankfully, those plans have been withdrawn and a new planning application has been submitted that proposes a complete and sensitive renovation and conversion to apartments and business premises.
Incidentally, a pilcher was a fur trader and Pilcher Gate was where they plied their trade.
The Montague Burton Heads
August 23, 2008 at 10:50 pm | Posted in Oddities and Oddments | 1 CommentTags: broad marsh, montague burton, Sculpture, vandalism
This pillar with sculptures of the faces of famous historical figures is the primary inspiration behind The Views of Nottingham.
I discovered it while exploring around the Broad Marsh Bus Station. It’s situated in an out of the way place that is primarily designed for kids to play on their skateboards and bikes and to spray the walls with graffiti.
When I first found it I was a bit freaked out. It just seemed to be a rather bizarre thing to be in that out-of-the way location – particularly as none of the people have any connection with Nottingham that I’m aware of. All I could guess is that it was a contemporary construction incorporating sculptures from a demolished building.
I took some photos, posted them on flickr and asked in the Nottingham, UK group if anyone could supply any more information. In short order PeteZab responded, pointing me to the Nottingham21 page on the Montague Burton Heads.
It turned out that my assumptions were correct and the heads came from the Montague Burton store which was demolished when the Broad Marsh area was redeveloped.
This experience made me realise that, despite living in Nottingham for the best part of forty years, there is still lots of things I don’t know about the place and plenty of surprises to be found.
The faces depicted on the pillar (with links to photos on Flickr) are:
- William Shakespeare – Playwright
- Robert Burns – Poet
- General James Wolfe British Army Officer
- Cecil Rhodes – founded the De Beers diamond company and the African state of Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe)
- The Duke of Wellington – General during the Napoleonic Wars
- Horatio Nelson – Navel Officer
- Dr David Livingstone – Explorer
- Captain James Cook – Explorer
- Sir Joshua Reynolds – Artist
- Isaac Newton – Scientist
Welcome To Views of Nottingham
August 22, 2008 at 10:39 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
This blog is a personal exploration of the history and architecture of The City of Nottingham and nearby places.
Nottingham is a city that is steeped in history and legend (everyone knows about Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest). It is also a city that is rapidly changing due to a massive redevelopment programme. I hope to document Nottingham as she is, as she was and as she will be and, along the way, discover some of her lesser known secrets.
Let me say from the beginning that I am perhaps a bit too nostalgic for the Nottingham I used to know. I miss some of the landmarks that have disappeared and dislike many of the steel and glass Lego constructions that have replaced them. I therefore make no apology for concentrating on the older buildings and sights of Nottingham. They are the ones that really interest me and they are the ones that I fear may one day be no more than a memory.
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