Nottingham - John Beckett

Nottingham's long, rich and colourful history has encompassed far more than Robin Hood, lace, Luddites and Lawrence; bikes, baccy and Brian Clough. Founded as an Anglian settlement on the north side of the River Trent, Nottingham's royal castle placed it at the crossroads of England and English history through the medieval centuries and during the English civil war. The industrial revolution presented major social problems for what had been a much admired, compact, Georgian country town. In time, Nottingham overcame them and developed into a prosperous industrial centre. Its status was recognised when in 1897 it was designated a city by Queen Victoria. In the twentieth century it has been a thriving provincial city. This is its story: the history of Nottingham, 'Queen of the Midlands'.