The city of Nottingham sits on a type of rock known as Sherwood Sandstone. It is part of a ridge of sandstone laid down between 200 and 280 million years ago which runs in a jagged line from Lincoln to Morecombe Bay.
Sherwood Sandstone is relatively soft but remains stable when it is excavated to form tunnels or caves. Perhaps that is why people settled in this area originally. Asser, the author of The Life of King Alfred writing in the year 893, stated that the Welsh name for Nottingham was Tig Guocobauc which means “house of caves”. So Nottingham was obviously known for its caves as far back as Saxon times.
Just over three hundred years later, in the 1298, the Borough Records make reference to buildings above and below ground. There are further references to “Rock Holes” from the 14th century.
The only archaeological evidence dating from this period is from the Pillar Cave in the Drury Hill system which has produced 13th century artifacts. Evidence from the other caves is much later however it is clear that many caves have been reused many times during their history.
All of the caves under the city of Nottingham are man-made and quite different in character to caves in other parts of the country. Many have clear evidence of their construction in the form of tool marks left in the walls. The sandstone in which the caves have been constructed is relatively soft, however it is possible to create relatively large and stable caves. Property owners saw the sandstone as an ideal way to extend their premises cheaply and this has led to the large number of caves underneath buildings within the city.
The caves were built for a variety of purposes. A few caves were used as accommodation while others were built to create extra storage below or behind and existing property. A number of caves were created by the activities of sand miners who operated in the area. Over the years many caves have collapsed or have been filled with concrete as building development goes on above them. Of the caves which survive in the city, most have been adapted and repaired during their history. The soft sandstone wears over time and many caves now have brick portions in the walls or floor where they have been repaired.
One of the most common uses for the caves is for making and storing beer. Many of the older pubs in Nottingham have rock cellars. Some pubs brewed their own beer in their caves. The caves maintain a constant temperature throughout the year making them perfect for storing beer.
One example of this is Sam Hancock’s Cave in the Drury Hill system. It has brick thralls around the edge so that barrels could be stored at a convenient height. This cave also features a recess in the wall which has a door across it that can be locked to create a secure storage area for money and spirits.
There is some documentary evidence for the caves being used during the 17th century but the first detailed description of their use comes from Charles Deering who wrote his History of Nottingham in the mid-18th century.
As the population of Nottingham grew in the late 18th and early 19th century pressure to create more accommodation increased. Cellars and caves below houses were rented out. This continued until the enclosure act of 1845 made the practice illegal.
During World War II many of the caves were used as air-raid shelters. It was at this time that many of the caves under Drury Hill were joined to make the cave system that we see today. Since the war most of the caves have been largely abandoned and many have accumulated building rubble. The scale of the rubble can be seen from this picture of the caves under Goose Gate prior to excavation.
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