THAT Nottingham existed at a very remote period there cannot be a doubt. Situated at the terminus of an extensive Forest, and on the banks of the river Trent (the third river in magnitude in the kingdom), with a fertile pasturage all around, and on an elevation eminently calculated for war and defence, few sites could be found more tempting in the country. It may therefore be assumed, that a town of some description existed here prior to the birth of Christ, and indeed anterior to the Roman invasion. Rowse gives Nottingham an antiquity so far back as 980 years before the Christian era, but on what evidence is not known. One thing is certain, that the soft and easily excavated sandstone rock was utilized to form dwellings in early times, many of which were inhabited until a recent period, and a few remain until the present day. The Saxon invaders gave to this place the name of Snodengaham or Snottingham, meaning a habitation or retreat in the rocks. To pursue the early History of the town further, would occupy more space than our limits will permit; we therefore pass on to the consideration of Nottingham as it now is.
Nottingham is the county town of Nottinghamshire; is one of the nineteen places constituted counties by Royal Charter; is a municipal borough of sixteen wards, and a Parliamentary borough. It is also an Assize and market town, and an Union. Nottingham is located a little to the south-east of the centre of England, and is bounded on the north by Hucknall Torkard (the burial place of Byron), on the east by Bestwood, Arnold, a portion of Gedling, and Colwick, on the south by West Bridgford and Wilford, and on the west by Wollaton, Bilborough, Beeston, and Nuthall. It is distant from London 124 miles, from Birmingham 54 miles, from Manchester 75 miles, from Liverpool 100 miles, from Lincoln 33 miles, and from Leicester 27 miles. The borough (which covers an area of 9,960 acres, or about 15 square miles) includes the parishes of Lenton, Radford, Basford, Bulwell, Sneinton, and parts of Wilford and Gedling. On the north it is sheltered by a range of hills, but is open on the south to the Nottinghamshire Wolds, the Vale of Belvoir, and the Leicestershire hills. Nottingham shows a very satisfactory bill of health, and has an excellent water supply. Taken altogether it is one of the cleanest, healthiest, and most pleasant manufacturing towns in the United Kingdom.
The population of Nottingham approaches 253,000. The rainfall averages about 29 inches. The rateable value exceeds £920,030. The staple trades are lace and hosiery, but silk, cotton, and woollen yarn is spun and twisted here. Tanning, brewing, and malting are carried on in the town and its neighbourhood; and there are many engineering works and foundries. Nottingham is governed by a Mayor, sixteen Aldermen, and forty-eight Councillors; has a Sheriff and a Recorder, and elects three Members of Parliament. The market days are Wednesday and Saturday.
There are two central Railway Stations* and several district stations in the borough, on the Great Northern and Midland Railways. Both Central Stations are situate in Station-street. For the purposes of this Guide, it must be assumed that visitors have arrived in Station-street. The Great Northern Station is a terminus, and was opened October 2, 1857; and the Midland Station May 22, 1848. The first section of the Tramways was opened September 17, 1878.
Visitors must now determine, according to circumstances and taste, whether they wish to enter the heart of the commercial portion of Nottingham, or whether they will devote half an hour or more before doing so. If the former is the case, visitors should take a tram which starts between the two stations every five minutes (fare 1d.), and runs close to the Market-place, and within a few minutes' walk of the Castle, the University College, Free Public Library, Natural History Museum, and Arboretum. They should then follow the Guide near the bottom of page 12.
* The Midland Railway between Nottingham and Derby was opened May 80, 1839; the Nottingham and Lincoln, August 8, 1846; Nottingham and Grantham, July 18, 1860; and the Nottingham and Melton (Gt. Nor.), September 1, 1879.
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