Old Market Square - Nottingham
May. 3rd, 2012 01:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
melodysparksChristmas in Nottingham
Old Market Square is an open town square in the centre of Nottingham, England. It is the largest surviving of its kind in the country and forms the heart of the city of Nottingham and has been a meeting place for people of Nottingham as well as the location for local events.
The 22,000 square meters market place has boundaries of Beast Market Hill to the West, Smithy Row to the North, and South Parade to the South. The Eastern end of the square is dominated by the Council House.
Travelling back into the history of Nottingham you will discover that the Old Market Square was once the central point of two towns of Nottingham. The Norman town around Nottingham Castle and the old Saxon town which was based around the current Lace Market at St. Mary's Church.
The Wheel
Smith's Bank which was established in 1688 and was the earliest provincial bank in England was found here. The location is now a branch of the National Westminster Bank.
The square was the original setting of Nottingham Goose Fair, an annual fair held in October originating over 700 years ago but The Goose Fair was moved 1 mile north of the city to the Forest Recreational Ground in 1928 when the square was redeveloped and the Council House was rebuilt.
Fountain Pool
In folklore the Market Square is supposed to be where outlaw Robin Hood took advantage of an amnesty and won the coveted silver arrow in a contest devised by the Sheriff of Nottingham. (Yes the Sheriff of Nottingham is real, it is a member of the local council and chosen every year. One of my extended family members was once the Sheriff as well as the Lord Mayor twice.)
Ringing in the Sheriff
The Square was redesigned to complement the new Council House in 1927 with several platforms, steps and flowerbeds creating a central procession way with a pair of fountains found at the end. We called this affectionately “Slab Square” due to the site being covered by large concrete paving slabs. Unfortunately over the years with the constant use from the residents of the city and the need for changes in function, and issues surrounding disabled access and general wear and tear the city council decided to redesign a new square once more.
Meet Me At The Lions
Construction of the new design got under way in 2005. The Square was scheduled to reopen before the end of 2006, but following delays reopened in March 2007.
Our new square was designed by Neil Porter in 2004 and completed in March 2007, the Old Market Square is built with three shades of granite. The central open space is a light coloured granite, with white, beige and dark grey granite used for the fountains, terraces and flowerbeds.
Towards Angel Row
The new square is a modern, single tier area, reflecting the history of the city including the recreation of an ancient border which once divided Nottingham. A new water feature dominates the west side of the Square, with jet fountains and waterfalls. These water features can be turned off if required, allowing a amphitheatre-like seating area to be created for shows and concerts. The opening events include concerts and parades, May Day and St Georges Day celebrations, a regular local farmers market on each third Saturday every month, reflecting the original purpose of the Square. Every CHristmas we have a German CHristmas Market and an Ice RInk/CHristmas Wonderland, in February Light Night with events using light around the city but centred in the square. (For 3 years we had a giant illuminated Ferris wheel which we affectionately named The Nottingham Eye that gave pamoramic views of the city rising 60 metres into the sky. In Ssummer we have a bech, yes a beach with boardwalk, beach huts and a small funfair, a large sandy area for kids to play and a paddling area.
The Farmers Market
The front of the square is dominated by the Council House, which serves as our city hall. The bell inside the council house dome, named 'Little John', has the deepest tone of any bell in the country. The sound produced by the bell travels over 7 miles on a clear day.
Two large stone lions guard the Council House steps, and they have historically been a popular symbol of the city, with the City Council recently adopting the lion on some of its recent 'Nottingham Proud' campaign posters. People have been meeting at the lions for decades and have served as a meeting point for city residents. The 'Left Lion' is most popularly used for meeting. These lions are names Leo and Oscar and were designed by Sir Joseph Else whose name adornes a branch of Wetherspoons which overlooks the square.
The Left Lion
Old Market Square is an open town square in the centre of Nottingham, England. It is the largest surviving of its kind in the country and forms the heart of the city of Nottingham and has been a meeting place for people of Nottingham as well as the location for local events.
The 22,000 square meters market place has boundaries of Beast Market Hill to the West, Smithy Row to the North, and South Parade to the South. The Eastern end of the square is dominated by the Council House.
Travelling back into the history of Nottingham you will discover that the Old Market Square was once the central point of two towns of Nottingham. The Norman town around Nottingham Castle and the old Saxon town which was based around the current Lace Market at St. Mary's Church.
The Wheel
Smith's Bank which was established in 1688 and was the earliest provincial bank in England was found here. The location is now a branch of the National Westminster Bank.
The square was the original setting of Nottingham Goose Fair, an annual fair held in October originating over 700 years ago but The Goose Fair was moved 1 mile north of the city to the Forest Recreational Ground in 1928 when the square was redeveloped and the Council House was rebuilt.
Fountain Pool
In folklore the Market Square is supposed to be where outlaw Robin Hood took advantage of an amnesty and won the coveted silver arrow in a contest devised by the Sheriff of Nottingham. (Yes the Sheriff of Nottingham is real, it is a member of the local council and chosen every year. One of my extended family members was once the Sheriff as well as the Lord Mayor twice.)
Ringing in the Sheriff
The Square was redesigned to complement the new Council House in 1927 with several platforms, steps and flowerbeds creating a central procession way with a pair of fountains found at the end. We called this affectionately “Slab Square” due to the site being covered by large concrete paving slabs. Unfortunately over the years with the constant use from the residents of the city and the need for changes in function, and issues surrounding disabled access and general wear and tear the city council decided to redesign a new square once more.
Meet Me At The Lions
Construction of the new design got under way in 2005. The Square was scheduled to reopen before the end of 2006, but following delays reopened in March 2007.
Our new square was designed by Neil Porter in 2004 and completed in March 2007, the Old Market Square is built with three shades of granite. The central open space is a light coloured granite, with white, beige and dark grey granite used for the fountains, terraces and flowerbeds.
Towards Angel Row
The new square is a modern, single tier area, reflecting the history of the city including the recreation of an ancient border which once divided Nottingham. A new water feature dominates the west side of the Square, with jet fountains and waterfalls. These water features can be turned off if required, allowing a amphitheatre-like seating area to be created for shows and concerts. The opening events include concerts and parades, May Day and St Georges Day celebrations, a regular local farmers market on each third Saturday every month, reflecting the original purpose of the Square. Every CHristmas we have a German CHristmas Market and an Ice RInk/CHristmas Wonderland, in February Light Night with events using light around the city but centred in the square. (For 3 years we had a giant illuminated Ferris wheel which we affectionately named The Nottingham Eye that gave pamoramic views of the city rising 60 metres into the sky. In Ssummer we have a bech, yes a beach with boardwalk, beach huts and a small funfair, a large sandy area for kids to play and a paddling area.
The Farmers Market
The front of the square is dominated by the Council House, which serves as our city hall. The bell inside the council house dome, named 'Little John', has the deepest tone of any bell in the country. The sound produced by the bell travels over 7 miles on a clear day.
Two large stone lions guard the Council House steps, and they have historically been a popular symbol of the city, with the City Council recently adopting the lion on some of its recent 'Nottingham Proud' campaign posters. People have been meeting at the lions for decades and have served as a meeting point for city residents. The 'Left Lion' is most popularly used for meeting. These lions are names Leo and Oscar and were designed by Sir Joseph Else whose name adornes a branch of Wetherspoons which overlooks the square.
The Left Lion
