Nottingham Castle & Arboretum

Well another threat of bad weather saw us once again heading for Nottingham. This time it was Robs turn to drive and we went to the Hucknall Tram Hub, that's all 3 hubs we've been to now. We got off the tram at the Market place and walked up the hill to the castle. Its closed now for 2 years while getting refurbished. We then had a wander down to the Trip to Jerusalem which is supposed to be the oldest Inn in the country. From there we legged it back to the Market Place and hopped on a tram to the Arboretum. We stopped outside the aviary and had our breakfast there just as the rain started. It wasn't very heavy just enough to get you wet. We had a good wander in the Arboretum and found the Chinese Bell Tower with its 4 cannons.After having a clamber around the Bell Tower we went out of the park and back on a tram to Hucknall then back home.

Getting the day tickets

Geoff

Ike & Rob

On top of the Castle gate

Me, dying for a pint

Geoff

This one's for Sally Sheldon

Geoff

This is quite sad

The arboretum from which the neighbourhood takes its name was the first designated public park in Nottingham selected under the authority of the Inclosure Act1845. Samuel Curtis oversaw the design of the park at a cost of £6,554 7s. 10d. On 11 May 1852, the park was officially opened in the presence of approximately 15,000 people.

The park was designed as a botanical collection and as a tranquil place in which to relax, forming a major attraction in the heart of Victorian Nottingham. The Arboretum has become one of Nottingham's 'green lungs' and is a Green Flag-winning park. It is the city's oldest public park and also the closest park to the city centre.

There have been many functions held at The Arboretum including the annual Nottingham Pride festival.

English Heritage has designated the site Grade II status on the Register of Historic Parks & Gardens and the park's Bell Tower, bandstand and Circular Aviary have all received Grade II listing protection.

Hugly cropped pic, it was a long way off

Ike

Ike & Rob messing about

Chinese bell tower (pagoda) in Nottingham Arboretum. It was designed in 1857 by Marriott Ogle Tarbotton as a war memorial and built in 1862. The bell was looted by British troops from a temple in Canton during the Anglo-Chinese war (Opium War) of 1857-61. Two of the cannon were captured at Sebastopol in 1854-55, during the Crimean war, the other 2 are replicas. In 1956 the pagoda was partly demolished and the bell was moved to the regimental museum in Preston.

Rob Bell

Jim Bell

Me

Rob

A beautiful collection of flowers

Geoff

We saw some lovely old buildings and although quite early on a Sunday morning a lot of people about. Even spotted a Green Parakeet in the Arboretum.Not sure if i'll be there next week, got a helicopter flight booked, fingers crossed for fine weather.