Today I am back in Nottingham - I love my native home.
Nothing will stop me visiting this old city with it’s unique history and geography. Not even the way it has completely degenerated into a sad reflection of it’s former self.
We still have some places worth preserving.
Once called “Tigguo Cobauc” (City of Cave Dwellers) by the Celts, and then "Snottingham” by the Saxons, Nottingham is built on caves.
Snot was the name of the leader of the Saxons, so it was the “ham” -dwelling place - of the people - ing - of “Snot”!. The Normans could not pronounce this intial “Sn” sound so they got rid of that. Now it’s Nottingham or “Notts”, if you live rahnd ‘ere.
Anyway, have always loved the caves and it never ceases to amaze me just how many there are. In fact the whole of the city is built on a massive network of sandstone caves and tunnels, which extend way beyond the main centre.
I have shown you before Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (England’s oldest inn)….
which is built into the caves underneath Nottingham castle.
You’d often bump into Friar Tuck while in there years ago. It’s just Robin Hood now you tend to see and lots of tourists.
Then we have The Bell (“Nottingham’s Oldest Inn” - see the sign over the door)
with it’s very own well at one of the bars.
Then there is Ye Olde Salutation (ALSO England’s oldest pub, apparently haha.) From Wiki:
Ye Olde Salutation Inn (nicknamed The Sal)[1] is a Grade II listed[2] public house, with parts dating from around 1240,[3] which lays claim (along with Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem and The Bell Inn) to being the oldest pub in Nottingham.[4] The inn also has a claim to being the most haunted pub in the country….
Here is an interesting article from the local Nottingham Post (excuse all the ads there)
It was in a cave underneath The Sal that we filmed this song, Sovay. And there were definitely some ghosts down there!!!
This song is about a highwayman (woman) and I thought it quite ironic that down in that cave there had been a highwayman fall to his death down another well. His ghost still lingers.
Album is out Friday - look out on YouTube for the premiere at 7pm on 6th March.
