Sunday, 8 April 2012

Nottingham (Part 6 - Outer)

The sixth and final instalment from Nottingham, covering the outer parts of the city. First stop is the northern end of the tram line - Hucknall (which I suspect local residents would see as a separate town rather than part of Nottingham). Clock-wise, the only notable feature of Hucknall is St Mary Magdalene church, which is the final resting place of Lord Byron.



Moving south we arrive at Bulwell. The Morrisons in the retail park to the north of the town centre has a strange but imposing clock tower. Reminds me of something that was built in the Cold War.


The clock tower on the shopping centre in the town centre itself is less impressive and tucked away down a side street. The locals looked at me as if I were mad to take a photograph of it.



Across the road is the more traditional and imposing clock tower of St Mary's church.


Okay, southwards, ever southwards. And to my favourite two clocks in Nottingham. Billy's Fish Bar on Arnold Road (sadly closed at the time) has this jolly clock (sadly not working at the time).



From the small Billy's Fish Bar to the mighty Star Brewery on Radford Road. The brewery looms up and dominates its surroundings, and at every moment you expect Tim Burton to appear making a new movie. The star clock itself is fantastic.



We move now to the west of the city, and the final four clocks on this tour. First up is Holy Trinity in Lenton which has one stopped clock and one that is about 40 minutes out of sync with the rest of the world.


The Boat Inn (re-built in 1922-23) in Priory Street has one small clock....



....whilst in the distance I spotted this large clock with no hands (the clock that is, not me) which I think may be the old Thomas Bayley & Co leather factory in Leen Gate built in the 1860's.


And finally, the impressive Trent Building of Nottingham University, set in parkland to the west of the city centre.



Finally we have completed our tour of Nottingham. The few architectural history facts that I have included are from Pevsner Architectural Guides - Nottingham, published by Yale University Press. Probably a breach of copyright, but hopefully I will get away with it by saying that the guides are well worth buying if you are visiting any major city in Britain.

So Nottingham - good clock hunting territory, great architecture, and a tram line (oh and the fantastic Nottingham Contemporary art gallery) - well worth a visit.

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