10 amazing things Nottingham gave the world: Part two
10. The Flying Bedstead (Built: 1953)
There’s a pretty odd statue of a Harrier in Hucknall where Wood Lane meets the bypass which is the only clue to one of the great things to come out of the town. The Flying Bedstead was developed at the Rolls-Royce factory and was the first plane to take off vertically, the prototype to the more widely-known Harrier Jump Jet.
9. Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (Founded: 1189)
Reportedly the oldest pub in Britain, with thousands of foreigners and locals flocking to Brewhouse Yard for a drink every year. Richard the Lionheart is said to have stayed at the inn during one of his stops in England, and if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for our top ten.
8. Salvation Army Founded: 1865
OK, so the Sally Army was founded in the East End of London, but it was the brainchild of Sneinton man William Booth. As well as whipping out the instruments to play Christmas songs, the Salvation Army is also one of the biggest distributors of humanitarian aid in the world.
7. Lace
Lace made by machine has played an important role in the industrial life of Notts since the 1760s when net was first made on the stocking frame.
By the early 1900s, Nottingham was the lace capital of the world with one third of the entire population earning their living in the trade, two thirds of them women.
The trade may be a shadow of its former self but lace is woven into the fabric of the city.
6. Player’s Cigarettes: 1832
It began as a small shop in Beast Market Hill in 1860 and went on to become one of Nottingham’s best-known brands.
John Player was the first tobacconist to offer pre-packaged tobacco. Before this, smokers would have to buy it loose by weight.
5. Boots: 1849
The other famous Nottingham brand along with Player’s and Raleigh.
When Nottingham-born Jesse Boot married Jersey businessman’s daughter Florence Rowe, the pair found a common entrepreneurial spirit which saw a little shop in Goose Gate turn into a global company.
4. Writers
Nottingham has a rich writing history, from Byron, who penned some of the finest poems of his era, via D H Lawrence, with his work littered with references to his origins in Eastwood, and Alan Sillitoe, who captured the grit of the city in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.
3. Running water
Turning on the taps is a fairly every day thing but the technology has its origins in Nottingham. Arnold-born Thomas Hawksley was an engineer for the Nottingham Waterworks Company and developed the first high-pressure water supply at Trent Bridge.
2. Our footballing heritage
Far too many things to mention, but Nottingham has the oldest league club in the world in Notts County, who were also the first team to wear a uniform kit.
Over the Trent, Nottingham Forest were the first team to wear shin pads and introduce goal nets and crossbars, and a whistle for the referee.
Oh, and Forest chairman Sam Widdowson introduced the idea of defending, by playing a 5-5-0 formation rather than a 1-2-7 which most teams used.
And then there’s the small matter of two European Cups in 1979 and 1980...
1. Robin Hood
As good at archery as he is at pulling in the tourists, Robin Hood is probably the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Nottingham.
The story of Robin, Maid Marian and his band of Merry Men is one of the most famous medieval tales and has been the subject of TV and film adaptations.
There’s a pretty odd statue of a Harrier in Hucknall where Wood Lane meets the bypass which is the only clue to one of the great things to come out of the town. The Flying Bedstead was developed at the Rolls-Royce factory and was the first plane to take off vertically, the prototype to the more widely-known Harrier Jump Jet.
- The Flying Bedstead
9. Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (Founded: 1189)
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8. Salvation Army Founded: 1865
OK, so the Sally Army was founded in the East End of London, but it was the brainchild of Sneinton man William Booth. As well as whipping out the instruments to play Christmas songs, the Salvation Army is also one of the biggest distributors of humanitarian aid in the world.
7. Lace
Lace made by machine has played an important role in the industrial life of Notts since the 1760s when net was first made on the stocking frame.
By the early 1900s, Nottingham was the lace capital of the world with one third of the entire population earning their living in the trade, two thirds of them women.
The trade may be a shadow of its former self but lace is woven into the fabric of the city.
6. Player’s Cigarettes: 1832
It began as a small shop in Beast Market Hill in 1860 and went on to become one of Nottingham’s best-known brands.
John Player was the first tobacconist to offer pre-packaged tobacco. Before this, smokers would have to buy it loose by weight.
5. Boots: 1849
The other famous Nottingham brand along with Player’s and Raleigh.
When Nottingham-born Jesse Boot married Jersey businessman’s daughter Florence Rowe, the pair found a common entrepreneurial spirit which saw a little shop in Goose Gate turn into a global company.
4. Writers
Nottingham has a rich writing history, from Byron, who penned some of the finest poems of his era, via D H Lawrence, with his work littered with references to his origins in Eastwood, and Alan Sillitoe, who captured the grit of the city in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.
3. Running water
Turning on the taps is a fairly every day thing but the technology has its origins in Nottingham. Arnold-born Thomas Hawksley was an engineer for the Nottingham Waterworks Company and developed the first high-pressure water supply at Trent Bridge.
2. Our footballing heritage
Far too many things to mention, but Nottingham has the oldest league club in the world in Notts County, who were also the first team to wear a uniform kit.
Over the Trent, Nottingham Forest were the first team to wear shin pads and introduce goal nets and crossbars, and a whistle for the referee.
Oh, and Forest chairman Sam Widdowson introduced the idea of defending, by playing a 5-5-0 formation rather than a 1-2-7 which most teams used.
And then there’s the small matter of two European Cups in 1979 and 1980...
1. Robin Hood
As good at archery as he is at pulling in the tourists, Robin Hood is probably the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Nottingham.
The story of Robin, Maid Marian and his band of Merry Men is one of the most famous medieval tales and has been the subject of TV and film adaptations.
Mark Barry, author of Ultra Violence and Violent Disorder, hails from Nottingham. You're in good company, Mr. Barry.
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