// Archives

20 December 2016 – what’s the story behind door number 20?

Scans locate historic secret room in walls of Gunpowder plot house. In November researchers exposed an erie secret concealed inside a key building in the Gunpowder Plot house of 1605. They used the latest scanning technology to reveal in 3D a hiding-hole used by 17th-Century Catholic priests escaping religious persecution. Rebecca Farr, Conservation and Engagement Manager …

16 December 2016 – what’s the story behind door number 16?

Gold medal for table tennis superstar student. Zhao Shuai, a student at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) won his second paralympic gold medal at the Rio Paralympic Games. Zhao Shuai after successfully defending his men’s single Table Tennis title. A member of the Chinese Paralympic table tennis team, Zhao, began studying English at UNNC earlier …

20 December: Chatsworth Christmas dinner

If you understand French, this menu from the lavish Christmas dinner at Chatsworth House in 1904 shows the festive feast that the lucky guests were treated to. But while the menu may be en Francais, the meal still includes some British favourites with Cumberland beef and mince pies making the cut alongside ‘Fromage Grille’ and …

18 December: Alice in Wonderland

This is a programme for a performance of Alice in Wonderland which was staged by University College Nottingham students on 18 December 1913. The programme was kept by Gertrude Devey who studied at the University between 1913 and 1917, and it is now housed by Manuscripts and Special Collections. In homage to the festive production …

13 December: Winter-Lull

Bay was the first private edition of DH Lawrence’s work to be produced during his lifetime and contains this powerful illustration by Anne Estelle Rice as an accompaniment to the poem ‘Winter-Lull.’ The collection was issued in a small print run of 200 copies and one of the vellum (mammal skin) copies is housed in …

7 December: Dig for Victory – Grow for Winter as well as Summer

This Dig for Victory poster is from the University’s Collection of British World War II propaganda posters and was originally intended to encourage Britons to grow their own vegetables over the winter months – in addition to spring and summer. This was part of a necessary drive for increased self sufficiency and sustainability in the face of …

1 December: Glee for Three Voices

This piece is taken from the University’s collection of early music and is the opening section of an 18th century musical interpretation by John Percy of winter from William Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour Lost (printed London, c.1795). Below is a video of a special performance for your viewing and listening pleasure by five of The University …