The Nottingham Historical Arts Society (later re-named Nottingham Historical & Archaeological Society), was founded in 1968 primarily to explore and record a complex of caves under Drury Hill threatened by the Broad Marsh re-development. As the historical importance of the caves became increasingly evident the emphasis was widened to include a campaign for preservation which culminated in the Drury Hill Caves being scheduled and happily they are now open to the public.
Since then the Society has been actively engaged on numerous other cave systems in the City, notably under the historic ‘Farmers’ shop on Exchange Walk and the ‘Bell Inn’ on Angel Row.
Towards the end of 1976, in Bridlesmith Gate, a small reconnaissance party succeeded in finding a way through many tons of rubble and debris down to the second level of what is now know as ‘B’ system. It soon became obvious that this was a unique system with features unlike anything else so far discovered in Nottingham, and that excavation and surveying was a matter of urgency.
During the subsequent excavations further caves came to light and where it has been possible to reach agreement with the owners of the property, these have been excavated, surveyed and the finds recorded.
An interesting complex of caves became available for excavation ahead of re-development on Middle Pavement. The inter-connected caves ran roughly north/south and contained two wells, a medieval cess pit and two malt kilns. With the co-operation of the developers, this system was subsequently scheduled as an Ancient Monument.
During this period, the Society entered for the B.B.C’s Archaeological Awards and became one of the six finalists.
The ‘Lord Nelson’ public house on Carlton Street was another notable excavation, with a well which proved to be 76ft down to the water table. The numerous sherds of blue and white pottery found in the well suggested it went out of use in the mid-19th century. The deeds for the site showed continuous use of the property as an inn back to 1668.
Another large complex of caves, known as the Goose Gate caves (confusingly, the entrance is on Brightmoor Street) show evidence of use from a medieval malt kiln, through a 19th century butcher’s establishment to a World War II public air raid shelter.
Other sites have included the ‘Flying Horse’ on the Poultry and the underground sand quarry at Peel Street.
The turn of the millennium sees the Society back in Drury Hill, clearing the caves west of those already open to the public.
