Discover Notts > History Historical Nottinghamshire From the Ice Age drawings at Creswell Crags to a perfectly preserved snapshot of a typical 1920s home at Mr Straw’s House in Worksop, Nottinghamshire is crammed with historical attractions. Creswell Crags, near Worksop, will take you back in time thousands of years. At this unique site, with its network of limestone caves and rocky crags, you can see one of the most northerly places on Earth to have been visited by our prehistoric ancestors. The recently discovered cave paintings at this outstanding archaeological site have led to it being dubbed ‘the Sistine Chapel of the Ice Age’. Yet Nottingham too has its own remarkable caves. Most of these were cut by hand from the local sandstone in early medieval times and used for storage and industries like tanning. They proved useful again in the last century when they were used as safe havens during the World War II bombing raids. You can explore some of the caves for yourself at the City of Caves attraction. The county is also well known for the village of Laxton, the last ‘Open Field Village’ in England. It is still farmed by a medieval system with each farmer allotted separate ‘strips’ in the open or common fields by a manor court. A local visitor centre provides a fascinating glimpse into this unique village. In 1607 the founding Pilgrim Fathers left Bassetlaw to start their new life in Holland. It was 13 years later - in 1620 - when the Pilgrims finally reached Plymouth, USA. The Mayflower Trail is a circular tour linking the historic sites associated with the principal players in the Pilgrim Fathers story. 2007 marks the 400th anniversary of this historic journey. If more recent times capture your interest, the Workhouse at Southwell and Nottingham’s Galleries of Justice offer a unique glimpse into British social history. Follow the path of hundreds of 19th century paupers whose only option was to submit to enforced separation from their husbands, wives and children under the harsh regime of the workhouse. Built in 1824 by local reformer Reverend J T Becher, Southwell Workhouse was used to introduce a revolutionary 'welfare' system in 1824 and as the prototype for the Poor Law of 1834 when hundreds of workhouses were built across the country. Tales of the city The city of Nottingham has a notorious past, from ancient underground caves and famous lace industry, to the turbulent and dramatic history of the castle with its links to monarchs and legends. From the legend of the infamous outlaw Robin Hood to the adventurous Pilgrim Fathers, from the passionate verse of Lord Byron to the working-class heroes of DH Lawrence, Nottinghamshire is proud of its contribution to world heritage. The origins of Nottingham have been shrouded in mystery for centuries. In 1820, a prominent historian concluded that “perhaps there is no other town in the kingdom whose origin is hid in greater obscurity than Nottingham”. However, Neolithic, Iron Age and Bronze Age artefacts have all been discovered in the River Trent and the city’s remarkable series of caves are believed to date back to the medieval period. Many centuries on, Nottingham was granted city status by Queen Victoria and this once small fortified town finally came of age. As a county, Nottinghamshire is steeped in heritage, taking pride in its rich and varied history. The English Civil War began in Nottingham when Charles I raised his standard here in 1642 and also ended in the county, in Newark. Interesting attractions remain, such as the Queen’s Sconce, which is an original civil war fortification. From 40,000 BC to the present day, check out our comprehensive timeline of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire below. To read more about Nottinghamshire's heritage and history and to search for things to do, click here. Capital for learning | Famous people | Nottingham history | Interesting facts | The Dukeries | Postcards | Virtual tours | Videos | Souvenirs | Nottingham hotels | UK family holidays | Nottingham bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) | Nottingham holiday cottages |
