RGS Nottingham Parks Autumn Amble

This article provides details of the RGS Nottingham Parks Autumn Amble I led on 15th October 2022 visiting four parks: Lenton Priory Park, Wollaton Park, University Park and Highfields Park along with some other features seen on this walk. The meeting point was Clifton South Tram Stop to make use of the tram system. There is a tram change at Nottingham Station Tram Stop to catch the Toton Lane Tram.

Lenton Priory Park

Alighting from Gregory St. tram stop the first park visited on this walk is Lenton Priory Park which was the site of Lenton Priory. Lenton Priory was, without doubt, the most powerful monastery in Nottinghamshire, not just in terms of the size of the building itself (similar to the minster building still visible in Southwell) but with many holdings across several counties. It was founded by William Peveril, constable of Nottingham Castle in around 1108 during the reign of Henry I, and dedicated to the abbey of Cluny in France.  It was a huge endowment, including the town of Lenton and other local smallholdings, 7 mills, 3 churches, with tithes from woods and fisheries, and from stud farms, lead and venison in Derbyshire where Peveril also held land. It was fortuitously situated on the River Leen, allowing it to control key trade and river crossings close to Nottingham. The monks played a significant role in the development of post-Conquest Nottingham and in the political life surrounding the castle. After passing Lenton Priory Park the route goes down Leen Gate then follows part of the River Leen which at this section is a canal to merge with Hill Side to hit Derby Road, one of the main road arteries in Nottingham. Crossing the road by the PELICAN crossing the imposing building of Lenton Lodge is directly ahead. This was originally the Wollaton Park Gatehouse and passing this building the route heads to Middleton Boulevard and crossing this road by the PELICAN the route enters Wollaton Park.  

Wollaton Park

After entering the park the walk goes along Lime Tree Avenue and atop a small hill is situated the magnificent Wollaton Hall, a stunning Grade I listed Elizabethan mansion. Wollaton Park dates from the fourteenth century and has a range of habitats, including grassland, wetland and woodland. Roaming the 500 acres of parkland are over 90 red and 120 fallow deer. These wild deer are incredible to see, though during the rutting season (September and October), stags are protective of hinds, and during calving season (June and July) deer tend to their young, so need to maintain a safe distance at all times. After gaining the top of the hill the route goes into Wollaton Hall’s Formal Gardens which include several statues, a Doric temple and the Camellia House. The Camellia House is the oldest cast-iron-framed glass house in Europe, from 1823, and is the only remaining one of its kind in this country. The Camellia House is open most days to relax in, with spectacular views over the Park and Lake, and the camellia flowers usually bloom between autumn to late spring. Exiting the gardens via a tunnel there are toilets and refreshments available at the Stable block directly opposite. Regaining the route the walk heads down hill to The Lake and exits the park via Beeston Lodge, a Grade II listed building.

University Park

Crossing Derby Road by the PELICAN crossing the route enters University Park which is The University of Nottingham’s largest campus at 300 acres and is conveniently located only two miles from the city centre. This has been part of the University since 1929 and the campus is widely regarded as one of the largest and most attractive in the country. Set in extensive greenery and around a lake, University Park is the focus of life for students, staff and visitors. The route threads its way through the campus to emerge by the lake in Highfields Park.

Highfields Park

Arriving at the lake a bridge is crossed to gain access to the southern path pausing to take in the view of The University of Nottingham’s Trent Building. This magnificent Grade II listed building was built in 1928. The core of the existing Highfields Park originates from the landscaping carried out by Joseph Lowe and his son Alfred in the late 18th and early 19th century. The comprehensive plan, largely funded by Sir Jesse Boot, for the University Campus included a new road system and parkland setting to the south adding to the landscaping already created by Joseph and Alfred Lowe. A major element of the park design was the extension of the original ‘fish pond’ to form the existing Boating Lake, completed by Nottingham engineer WH Radford. The area around the original rock outcrop was left virtually untouched along with most of the pond, apart from the construction of some stone retaining walls around the water’s edge. Tottle Brook was diverted to by-pass the Boating Lake and leave the Park via a culvert under the Boulevard.

Before exiting Highfields Park to head for the University of Nottingham tram stop you can avail yourself of the refreshments available from the cafe by the lake. The distance walked was 4.14 miles.

References 

Lenton Priory https://www.medievalists.net/2021/03/lenton-priory/

Lenton Lodge https://www.lentontimes.co.uk/streets/lenton_lodge.htm

Wollaton Park https://wollatonhall.org.uk/deer-park-and-gardens/

University Park https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/about/campuses/universityparkcampus.aspx

Highfields Park https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/highfieldspark

RGS Nottingham City Walk

The activity starts at the Clifton South tram terminus. After taking the tram into the city we alight at the Royal Centre and the start of the walk. From here we head north along Goldsmith St passing the Royal Centre on the right then turn right at traffic lights on Talbot St.

Then we pass two iconic Nottingham Trent University buildings. The first is a tower block of Newton. This is a Grade II* listed building and was part of the former Trent Polytechnic, and before that the Nottingham and District Technical College, which was set up by the City Council in 1945. It was designed by Cecil Howitt in 1952 and finally built between 1956-58. Then turning left onto South Sherwood St. we come to the second building Arkwright. Built in 1877-81 with an elaborate Gothic design of gables, arches and pinnacles this was originally home to University College Nottingham as well as the city library and a natural history museum. Described at the time as the, “finest pile of public buildings in Nottinghamshire”, it was once the learning place of celebrated author D. H. Lawrence, providing inspiration for Ursula’s college career in The Rainbow. It was also the building where, just over 100 years ago, groundbreaking work by Professor Frederic Stanley Kipping led to the discovery of silicone polymers and spawned a multibillion-pound industry. Now we cross over Shakespeare St. then head up the hill on North Sherwood St.

After passing Newstead Grove it is a short distance to the Arboretum. The Arboretum is a Nottingham’s oldest public park and was opened on 11th May 1852. It a beautifully maintained park that is home to an important collection of over 800 trees, some of which are from the original collection planted in the 19th century. The layout and design of Nottingham Arboretum was performed under the supervision of Samuel Curtis, a botanist and horticultural publicist in 1850. Samuel had previously been involved with the layout of Victoria Park in the East End of London in 1842. The route goes through the Arboretum and after exiting the tunnel we take path on left which passes the Fergus O’Connor statue and the Chinese Bell Tower then continues to Duck Pond. Passing the Duck Pond on the right exit the Arboretum via the main entrance on Waverley St.

Just before the traffic light junction with Peel St./Clarendon St. we head into the Nottingham General Cemetery. The Nottingham General Cemetery Company received Royal Assent for their Act of Parliament on 19 May 1836. After the Second World War, the cemetery company went into liquidation, and after a period of ownership by the Crown, the freehold passed to Nottingham City Council in 1956. The cemetery contains 336 First World War burials many of which were made from the Bagthorpe War Hospital and other war hospitals in the city. More than 100 of these graves form a war plot, with the names of the dead inscribed on an adjoining Screen Wall. There are also ten Second World War burials in the cemetery, and one Belgian grave. We take the path through the cemetery which heads up hill and runs parallel with Clarendon St. Continuing on path we exit via the the gate house and Alms Houses on Alfreton Rd. These were was constructed to the designs of the architect Samuel Sutton Rawlison in 1837 -1840. 

Crossing over the roads and we head left downhill onto Derby Rd on the right-hand side of the road. Cross over Upper College St. Arriving at car park signposted Convent after passing the second gate turn sharp right into the car park using the pedestrian passageway. Ahead are some steep steps in a lighted dark place. These descend down a narrow passageway then exit into a wide-open area which has the appearance of a ravine! You have just been through The Park Tunnel. This was built in 1855 to allow horsedrawn carriages access to The Park Estate from Derby Road and was designed by Thomas Chambers Hine. However, it was never used for its intended purpose because it was built to a gradient of 1 in 12. This was considered too great for horsedrawn carriages as the maximum gradient is 1 in 14. Now it is one of Nottingham’s hidden gems. Coming out of the tunnel you pass two houses onto Tunnel Rd.

Going down Tunnel Rd. and at the junction with Tattersall Drive. Turn left onto Tattersall Drive passing the bowls club and tennis courts on your left. Keep ahead on Tattersall Drive to a roundabout turning left take the second exit onto Peveril Drive. Follow Peveril Drive out of Park Estate onto Castle Boulevard. Arriving at Castle Rd. turn left and on the left is the Trip to Jerusalem pub. After this pause turn left up Castle Rd. then turn right onto Friar Lane crossing over Maid Marion Way then onto South Parade by Market Square and the tram stop.