melodysparks | Nottinghams' Reflection in the Old Market Square Water Feature

The upper half of this picture is actually a reflection in the water feature of the Market Square Water Feature.

Old Market Square is an open town square in Nottingham, England, the largest such surviving in England, and forms the heart of the city of Nottingham. It covers an area of about 22,000 m².

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.

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 are to include concerts and parades, with plans being made for May Day and St Georges Day celebrations, as well as to bringing back a regular local farmers market on each third Saturday every month, reflecting the original purpose of the Square.

The front of the square is dominated by the Council House, which serves as the 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 popularily used for meeting. These lions are names Leo and Oscar