Wander to Canning Circus

I varied the route I often take for my lunchtime wander. These are some of the things I saw.

This is the Bell Inn, dating from around 1437. It used to consist of two taverns with an alleyway down the middle - the alleyway is now a corridor through to the back bar.

Hidden behind trees, above unremarkable shops is the elegant Bromley House. This 18th Century building is now Nottingham's subscription library.

Onwards, up Angel Row away from Market Square, there are other interesting shopfronts.

At this point, I normally walk up Derby Road past the cathedral, but this time I went up Tollhouse Hill on to Wollaton Street...and was rewarded with some rather nice industrial buildings.

This building, covered in signs for long-forgotten businesses...

..has a really great set of doors.

Apparently this building used to be a theatre - but it has really fallen into disrepair. The other side is interesting too - I'll come back again for that.

As Derby Road meets Canning Circus, there is a little terrace of shops by Watson Fothergill. Not his best work, but one for my collection anyway.

Canning Terrace, a row of early Victorian almshouses, has an archway through to...

...the General Cemetery, surprisingly tranquil after the noise of the road.

Though somewhat let down by this.

Over the road is the Nottingham College of Art - in a particularly proud building.

This is the back of a very fine looking terrace of houses... I thought this side showed more character though.

The Newton Building, built in the 50's, was where I "studied" at Nottingham Trent University

This is the Masonic lodge on Goldsmith Street.

Finally, as per usual, a shot of Market Square - with the Nottingham Riviera still in full swing.

Thanks for joining me on another little wander.

Alleyway wander

I have long been intrigued by the half-hidden alleyways and courtyards that can be found around the city...

A courtyard off Stoney Street.

A loading bay on St Mary's Gate.

An alleyway on St Mary's Gate.

A ginnel (or snicket) on High Pavement.

A courtyard entrance at Weekday Cross.

Defunct light engineering, Middle Hill.

Former garage, beneath railway arches at Middle Hill.

Wasteland, Middle Hill.

Alley by the courts.

Courtyard off Carrington Street.

Norfolk Place, off Market Square.

Cobden Chambers, Pelham Street.

That is all.

If you know of any other good alleyways or yards etc in Nottingham, please let me know.

Cemetery Wander

As part of an ongoing project to find out more about the architect Watson Fothergill, I noticed that he is buried in Church Cemetery. So I thought I'd have a look for his grave.

On the way to the cemetery I saw this rather excitable sign outside the wonderful Jermy & Westerman antiquarian bookshop...

This is Mansfield Road Lodge - built on the site of an old toll booth.

Church Cemetery - formerly Rock Cemetery.

It is quite big.

Ooops.

I decided not to investigate this hollowed out grave...

...or the gnawed dead bird nearby.

This grave looks a likely candidate for an architect known for his Gothic Revival and English Vernacular designs...

...but this is actually Watson Fothergill's grave. A surprisingly simple affair..

There are some rather grand memorials in this cemetery.

And graves, cut into the rock - oddly separated from their neighbours.

Great looking caves, which I think are from a failed business attempt to build catacombs in the 1920s.

They might even connect to the 'Mansfield Road Caves' which are, I think, less than 100m away.

And back towards the exit.

The Sadlers huddle together beneath a sheltering outcrop.

Outside, and down a side road, the Jewish Cemetery from the early 19th century appears forgotten and neglected.

This plaque is difficult to photograph, so I'm not sure what it says.

Back in town, this claims to be the oldest restaurant in Nottingham.

Market Square - featuring the Nottingham Riviera. Funfair, food and a beach for the kids.

Thanks for joining me. As ever, suggestions for future wanders are always welcome.

T