Nottingham Historical & Archaeological Society

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This is the public page of the Society where we aim to publish all our many pictures and information of the caves of Nottingham.

03/11/2026

CAPTION COMPETITION!

We've come across some unusual sights while exploring Nottingham's underground caves, but this one is just asking for a caption!

We want to hear your funniest suggestions.

What caption would you put for this photo?

Keep it clean(ish)!

We'll leave the rest to your imagination!

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03/11/2026

Another day, another cave.

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02/11/2026

Here's something a little unusual from our underground explorations!

This photograph was taken looking straight up inside a shaft, using our 360 camera.

The only access was through a small opening, just big enough to squeeze the camera through. We couldn't physically enter the shaft, so the 360 camera gave us a view of something we otherwise wouldn't have been able to see.

What makes this particularly interesting is that we have absolutely no idea what the shaft was originally used for!

And there's something else...

Look carefully towards the very top. Does that look like an old bottle to you?

We're not certain what we're looking at, but it's certainly intriguing!

Was the shaft used for ventilation, a well, or something entirely different? At the moment, it's a mystery.

We'd love to hear your thoughts. What do you think its original purpose might have been? And can anyone make out that object at the top?

Sometimes exploring Nottingham's underground isn't about finding answers — it's about discovering even more questions!

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01/11/2026

These photographs take us back approximately 20 years to the Broad Marsh East caves, part of what is now the popular City of Caves visitor attraction in Nottingham.

The Broad Marsh caves have had many different uses throughout their history, including storage, workshops, and even air raid shelters during the Second World War.

These older photographs offer a fascinating glimpse into how part of the cave system looked around two decades ago.

Fancy seeing what the caves look like today?

You can explore them for yourself by booking a visit to the City of Caves attraction. Guided tours offer a chance to discover more about Nottingham's remarkable underground history.

For visitor information and bookings, visit:

https://www.nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk/cityofcaves

Have you visited the City of Caves? Perhaps you remember what they looked like 20 years ago? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments!

Photographs from the Nottingham Historical & Archaeological Society archive.

National Justice Museum City of Caves, Nottingham

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31/10/2026

A darker side of Wollaton Hall... 🎃

With Halloween upon us, we thought we'd give one of Nottingham's most magnificent historic buildings a slightly more atmospheric look!

Wollaton Hall certainly doesn't need much help looking mysterious. Its striking architecture, towering walls and elaborate stonework make it the perfect setting for a spooky October evening.

Here's our Halloween-inspired interpretation of this Nottingham landmark. The image has been digitally altered for a bit of seasonal fun!

Happy Halloween from everyone at Nottingham Historical & Archaeological Society! 👻

30/10/2026

Originally built as the headquarters of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank, construction began in 1877. The first phase of the building opened for business on 21 March 1881, even though work was still ongoing, with the building finally being completed in 1882. At the time, the architect was still known as Fothergill Watson, only changing his name to Watson Fothergill in 1892 to preserve his mother's maiden name.

The building is a masterpiece of the Gothic Revival style, packed with fascinating details. Look closely and you'll find beautifully carved stone panels representing Nottinghamshire's key industries, along with an array of decorative grotesques – often mistaken for gargoyles, but unlike gargoyles they don't act as waterspouts. The famous chained monkey, symbolising the burden of a mortgage, is another of the building's many talking points.

Many people assume the corner onto Pelham Street formed part of the original design, but this section is actually an extension added in 1924–25 by architect Basil Baily, who carefully designed it to complement Fothergill Watson's original work.

A huge thank you to everyone at The Box on Thurland Street for making the Nottingham Historical & Archaeological Society so welcome during our recent visit. We really appreciate your time and the opportunity to explore one of Nottingham's finest Victorian buildings.

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29/10/2026

Not everything beneath Nottingham's historic buildings is open to the public, and this is one of those fascinating hidden spaces.

This 360° photograph was taken in an area of the National Justice Museum that visitors don't normally get to see.

With its impressive brick-vaulted ceiling, arched openings, old brickwork and intriguing passages, it's another reminder of just how much history lies hidden beneath the streets of Nottingham.

It's particularly interesting to see how the different openings and brickwork fit together, raising questions about how this space was originally used and how it may have changed over the years.

Take a look around the 360° image and tell us what catches your eye!

A big thank you to the National Justice Museum for allowing us access to photograph and document this fascinating area.

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28/10/2026

Do you have a cave under your property?

A cellar door, a passage cut into sandstone, an underground chamber… could your property hold another piece of Nottingham’s hidden history?

The Nottingham Historical & Archaeological Society (NHAS) would love to hear from owners of caves, cellars and historic buildings who would be interested in helping us record them.

Our volunteer team uses photography, 360° panoramic imaging and archaeological recording to document these spaces and the features that tell their stories.

We’re interested in buildings too! Historic rooms, unusual architectural features and evidence of how a property has changed can all help us understand Nottingham’s past.

Whether you know the history of your property or have more questions than answers, please get in touch. Any visit would be arranged with your permission.

📩 Message this page or email [email protected]
🌐 houseofcaves.org.uk

Have you got a space we should know about—or know someone who has? Tell us in the comments, tag them or share this post.

Let’s uncover Nottingham’s past—together.

27/10/2026

Here are a few more photographs from the fascinating cave system beneath the Thurland Hall pub in Nottingham.

Have you ever been inside these caves, or do you remember hearing stories about them? We'd love to hear from you!

Please note: These caves are not open to the public, and access is restricted.

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26/10/2026

When the railway cut through Nottingham's caves!

Deep beneath the Thurland Hall pub in Nottingham is a fascinating example of how the construction of the Great Central Railway changed the city's underground landscape.

During the late 1890s, engineers drove the railway through Nottingham, constructing a tunnel beneath Thurland Street as part of the route to the new Victoria Station.

But there was something already beneath the streets — Nottingham's sandstone caves.

At Thurland Hall, the railway cut through an existing cave, removing part of the original excavation. A substantial brick wall was constructed as part of the railway tunnel, leaving the surviving section of the cave alongside it.

Our photographs show this brick railway wall from inside the cave. In places, the space between the railway brickwork and the sandstone is remarkably narrow.

An old plan of the Thurland Hall cellars also shows the railway tunnel running directly alongside the surviving underground chambers.

It's an extraordinary meeting of two periods of Nottingham's history — the city's much older rock-cut caves and the ambitious Victorian railway engineers who transformed the landscape above and below ground.

Although the railway has long since disappeared from this part of Nottingham, evidence of its construction remains hidden beneath the streets.

A huge thank you to the property owner for allowing NHAS access to record these fascinating underground features.

These are private caves, not open to the public. Access is through NHAS by permission only.

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Address

Nottingham

Opening Hours

7:30pm - 9pm

Website

https://www.houseofcaves.org.uk/

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