Nottinghamshire: History and Archaeology
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Origins | The Borough | Population | Industries | Railway stations

The Trent | Cricket geound | Wilford Bridge | Clifton Grove

The tram | Queen's Walk | Carrington Street | Lister Gate | St Peter's

Wheeler Gate | The Market Place | Friar Lane | The castle | Wollaton Hall

Mortimer's Hole | Caves beneath Nottingham Castle

General Hospital | Park Row | Roman Catholic cathedral | General Cemetery

Blind Institute | Albert Hall | Arboretum | High School

Church Cemetery | Forest Ground | Mansfield Road

Woodborough Road | Lunatic Asylum | University College

Poor Law Office | Library and Museum | The Guild Hall

Theatres | The Shambles | Victoria St | Pelham St | St Paul's Church

Prison | Sneinton Market Place | St Mary's Church | County Hall | Town Hall | Weekday Cross

Midland Institution for the BlindLeaving the Cemetery, by the upper walk, on the right, visitors will pass through a somewhat narrow outlet, bounded on the left by the simple and unostentatious Burial Ground of the Quakers, to Clarendon-street, opposite the Midland Institution for the Blind. This handsome and commodious building was opened in 1853, "for the instruction and employment of the blind of both sexes, from the counties of Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, and Rutland." This institution is accessible on weekdays from ten to twelve, and from three to five o’clock. The sale-room is in Chapel-bar. Adjoining the Asylum, in Chaucer-street, is the Female House of Refuge, an establishment especially provided for the shelter, protection, and reformation of females, who had previously been leading a life of sin and wickedness.

The School of ArtDescending Clarendon-street, and entering Waverley-street, the School of Art claims attention. It is opposite the "bottom" gate of the Cemetery. This School was originally established in 1843, "for the purpose of affording instruction in designs for manufactures, and in the history, principles, and practice of the ornamental art," and is one of the most successful Art Schools in the country. It is open to the Public every Saturday afternoon. The building is a specimen of the Venetian School of Italian architecture. The corner stone was laid Oct. 22nd, 1864, by the late Duke of Newcastle, KG., Provincial Grand Master, and the Freemasons of Nottinghamshire. A few steps further and the gates of the Arboretum - invite visitors to enter. Of this Lodge we give an engraving from a drawing taken inside the Arboretum, and looking on to the General Cemetery, to which reference has been made. From the tablet, on the Lodge visitors will learn that it was opened to the public May 11, 1852. It comprises seventeen acres, and presents within itself a beautiful landscape, a People's Park, and an ornamental Garden. It is laid out with exquisite taste and skill, is planted with innumerable and choice shrubs, and in the autumn presents such a floral picture, as to become a "thing of beauty," and the heart sighs that it might also be a "joy for ever."

Arboretum gates and General CemeteryThe large building on the north-west side of the grounds, in the Tudor style of architecture, comprises spacious Refreshment Rooms (where the "cups that cheer" and other of nature's requirements are provided). On the south-east walk is a statue to Feargus O'Connor, formerly an M.P. for the borough. The most conspicuous object, however, in the grounds, is the War Trophy, which consists, in part, of cannon taken at the siege of Sebastopol, and a Chinese bell, taken in a recent war with the Celestials. The edifice, under which the bell is hung, and which is unique of its kind, was designed by the late Mr. Tarbotton, borough engineer. It is about forty-five feet in height. The cannon, taken in the Crimea, occupy the angles of a stone platform. Every particular respecting it is inscribed upon the four sides of the platform which supports the trophy. The views from the grounds are most extensive, and give a correct idea of the rapid manner in which the town has extended itself. Conspicuous amongst the many objects brought under notice, is All Saints' Church and the High School, a stately edifice of stone, opened in 1868, and well adapted for the important objects for which it is intended. The "High School" (or, as it was formerly called, the "Free Grammar School ") was founded in 1513 by Dame Agnes Mellors, who partly endowed it. The Girls' High School, a building of far different design, is a little beyond this, and is residential in appearance. The Arboretum should be left by the eastern Lodge, by a road under a bridge, and along an avenue— immediately opposite the central walk.

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© A P NICHOLSON | PAGE LAST UPDATED: 27 APRIL 2003