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Nottingham, a historic city in England, is best known for the legendary tales of Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men. Yet, beneath the adventurous stories of these fictional heroes lies a rich and compelling history that stretches back centuries. What's particularly intriguing is that Nottingham is like two cities in one: there's the world above ground, and then there’s the mysterious one below.
The underground world is a sprawling maze of caves, many of which were only uncovered in recent years. The eerie secrets they contain continue to surface, with more discoveries likely still to come. From a massive monastic fish tank to a deadly conspiracy against a queen’s lover, these ten chilling facts will give you a glimpse into the city's underground world.
10. Over 800 Caves Discovered
Nearly 900 caves have been uncovered beneath the city of Nottingham, with more than 300 found after 2014. This means that researchers are only now beginning to fully comprehend the extent of this underground network. While it's clear that these caves have existed for centuries, records dating back over 1,200 years show that Nottingham was famous for its subterranean passages during the Viking Age.
One of the earliest mentions of the caves appears in AD 893, when a chronicler of King Alfred the Great referred to them using the Welsh term 'Tiggua Cobauc,' meaning 'house of caves.' Over time, people started making pilgrimages to Nottingham to see these mysterious underground spaces. Among these visitors was the famous writer Daniel Defoe, who came in the 1700s.
However, most of the caves that still exist today are not from the Viking period. According to the city's resident archaeologist, only about 200 caves might have existed during medieval times, and many could have been lost or altered since then. The majority of the caves we see now were dug between the 16th and 19th centuries.
9. Completely Man-Made
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Nottingham caves is that they are entirely man-made. This raises the question: why did so many people seek out subterranean spaces? The primary reason, in many cases, was storage. People used the caves to store both personal belongings and commercial goods, with many of them being only about ten feet or a few meters long. Some of the smallest caves measure around 10 square feet (9 square meters). While this is a reasonable size for storing items, it's far too cramped for anyone to spend much time inside—at least, that’s what one might assume.
Sadly, there were times when people did actually live in these small, cramped caves. During the Industrial Revolution, unscrupulous landlords took advantage of the flood of job seekers coming into the city, offering them cave dwellings. But what made the Nottingham caves different from those in other cities? The key is the city's geology: it’s built on soft yet structurally sound sandstone. This type of stone is easy to dig through and can even be carved by hand, but it’s strong enough to avoid collapsing.
8. Terrible Living Conditions
Living in the caves was officially banned in 1845, and it's easy to see why—the conditions were appalling. With little access to fresh air and sanitation, and entire families crammed into tiny spaces, diseases like smallpox and cholera spread easily. Employers took advantage of those living in the caves, even exploiting children from these underground slums for cheap labor.
One such business was a tannery that employed children as young as eight to help make leather. The tanning process involved using ammonia extracted from human waste, creating a foul stench so strong that even rats avoided the area. On the plus side, this meant that the cave-dwellers were spared from the threat of the bubonic plague.
The horrible odor even kept rodents away from the surface, which led many wealthy people to leave the area during the plague years. But for the children below, staying free from the Black Death didn’t make their lives any easier. The work continued, even as their hands deteriorated from contact with the caustic quicklime used to remove flesh from animal hides.
7. The Caves Had Many Other Uses
Not all the uses of the caves were unpleasant. Some surprisingly ordinary businesses in Nottingham took their operations underground, or set up shop in caves carved into the cliffs. These included a post office, a drugstore, and even a butcher's shop. Additionally, some caves were transformed into garderobes, which were medieval toilets.
The benefits of underground spaces for security purposes didn’t escape the notice of Nottingham’s residents. The founder of the city's first bank dug several caves beneath his kitchen to safeguard people's deposits, while the caves under Nottingham Castle were repurposed as dungeons. There were also some more unusual uses, such as a cave turned into a fish tank at a local monastery. This makes more sense than it may seem at first—fish were an important part of the diet for medieval monks.
There were also a few grander caves used by the wealthy, serving as places to socialize and flaunt their status. A stranger use, however, was the 19th-century scientific study of tadpoles. Experiments were carried out in the caves to observe how the tiny creatures would develop without exposure to light.
6. The Murdered Lover of a Queen
While innuendo is often a hallmark of British humor, there’s likely no hidden meaning behind the name 'Mortimer’s Hole.' This tunnel connects Nottingham Castle to one of the oldest inns in England. The tunnel, built in 1067, predates the inn, which was established in 1189. So, it wasn’t designed as a sneaky shortcut for a nobleman to reach the pub.
In fact, Mortimer’s Hole owes its name not to a mere passage, but to a conspiracy. Roger Mortimer, the lover of Queen Isabella, conspired with her to force her husband, King Edward II, to pass the crown to their young son so they could rule until the prince was old enough. However, by 1330, King Edward III realized that his mother and Mortimer were unlikely to relinquish power voluntarily.
One night, Edward III and his men silently infiltrated the passage to the castle, where they captured Mortimer, who was subsequently hanged. However, some historians believe that the tunnel named after Mortimer may not be the one Edward used. A different tunnel, discovered in 2010, is said to match the historical accounts of the raid.
5. A Clever Alarm System
Being situated in Nottingham, the caves have inevitably become a part of local folklore. According to legend, Robin Hood and his Merry Men used these very caves as hideouts. A sandstone cave in nearby Sherwood Forest is even named Robin Hood’s Cave. While the popular tales of the 'Prince of Thieves' are a blend of the deeds of various outlaws, local myths, and imagination, it's not entirely implausible that he sought refuge in the caves.
The notorious outlaw Dick Turpin, a figure often romanticized in popular tales, is said to have hidden out in caves beneath Nottingham’s pubs to avoid capture. Some suggest that a golf ball-sized hole in the ceiling of one of these surviving caves served as a warning system for criminals, alerting them when authorities were nearby. A lookout could drop stones through the hole to signal danger. Members of the Luddite movement are also thought to have used the caves to secretly plan the destruction of textile machinery.
4. A Safe Refuge from WWII Bombings
Though the caves sometimes sheltered criminals, they also played a critical role in protecting the people of Nottingham. In the 20th century, some new caves were dug, and older ones were expanded for a specific purpose: to serve as air raid shelters during World War II, offering safety from bombing raids.
Nottingham, being a significant industrial hub and ammunition manufacturing center during the war, was a prime target for German bombers. Around 90 caves were transformed into air raid shelters, and when the city finally faced bombing attacks, they saved countless lives. The most devastating raid occurred in May 1941, leaving the city in flames, destroying its oldest church, and causing 159 fatalities. Without the caves, the death toll might have been much higher. Thanks to them, life returned to normal quickly, and schools reopened the following week.
3. Still in Use Today
Ghost tours are just one of the many ways the caves remain in use today. While some are preserved to inform the public about Nottingham’s rich history, many others are privately owned and serve a variety of purposes. Centuries ago, Christian monks transformed caves into chapels, and more recently, Buddhist monks have used them for meditation practice. While isolation in caves is common for these monks, they advise the public to limit their time to just a few hours.
The caves have long been used for recreational purposes. Historical evidence suggests that some caves once served as bowling alleys and even gentlemen's clubs. This trend continues today, with some pubs and restaurants now offering cave-side seating for their patrons. Additionally, certain caves have been repurposed as venues for unique theatrical performances, and there's even a cave escape room for those brave enough to try.
2. Haunted Passageways
With its eerie underground caves, criminal hideouts, and dungeons, it’s no wonder that the city’s subterranean world is believed to be haunted. Several caves are rumored to be the site of ghostly encounters, while others echo with unexplainable noises. Mortimer’s Hole, for example, is one such place, where, along with Nottingham Castle, it’s said to be haunted by the ghost of Queen Isabella. She is believed to still mourn the execution of her lover, Roger Mortimer, at the hands of her own son. Those who encounter her in the dark passageway often hear her cry, “Fair son, have pity on gentle Mortimer.”
An old inn in the city is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl named Rosie. Visitors leave her offerings such as drinks, dolls, and marbles in a shadowy corner. Nighttime ghost tours of the caves are popular among tourists, with multiple reports of a crying Victorian woman wandering in the dark. Some visitors even claim to have been struck by mysterious stones.
1. Thirsty for Beer?
Throughout history, and even today, one of the most common uses for the caves has been for storing drinks. The constant cool temperature inside the caverns, remaining a steady 57°F (14°C) year-round, makes them ideal for both storing and brewing beer and ale. This is why many of the pubs and inns across the city have their own caves.
As early as 1420, Carmelite monks were brewing the city's ales, drawing the water needed for the brewing process from wells located within the caves. Another notable cave brewery, established in 1785, became the site of an unexpected event when railway construction workers inadvertently caused its collapse, spilling its contents into the tunnel they were digging.
However, the people of Nottingham weren’t just brewing beer because the sandstone caves made it easy; there was also demand. Beer was a staple drink in medieval times, not because it was necessarily cleaner, but because it was considered a more nutritious choice. The extra calories in beer made it a popular option for workers and farmers who needed the energy.
