Nottingham old and new
February 21, 2025
Charles Deering’s ‘Nottinghamia vetus et nova’, which translates from the Latin to ‘Nottingham old and new’, is widely considered to be one of the earliest histories of the town. First published in 1751, the book is a key source for the early study of Nottingham’s caves. Deering was born in Germany and spent his adult …
Into the Labyrinth
February 6, 2025
The story of the rediscovery and exploration of Nottingham’s caves has often been driven not only by determined study, but also by simple curiosity and even happenstance. This was certainly the case in 1837, when, in the course of the construction of a row of houses along Mansfield Road, the entrance to a mysterious labyrinth …
The Lions’ Den: Entertainment in Nottingham’s caves
January 31, 2025
Visitors to Nottingham’s caves are often disappointed to learn that most of them were used to store goods such as ale, wine and hay; or else as wells or kilns. True, they have been a vital part of the fabric of the town for at least a millennium, but these quotidian purposes don’t exactly live …
Photographing artefacts for the dear sisters exhibition
August 27, 2024
This blog post, written by Digitisation Assistant Catherine Martin, highlights the digitisation team’s role in preparing for a new exhibition. Before an exhibition is installed in the Weston Gallery, the digitisation team at Manuscripts and Special Collections photograph every item which has been selected for display, to create images which can be used in publicity, …
Victorian Valentines
February 14, 2024
The link between St. Valentine’s Day and romance has existed at least since the later medieval period – but it was not until the latter half of the nineteenth century that one of its most iconic features emerged in its modern form: the Valentine’s Day card. Traditionally, Valentine’s Day had been associated with poetry – …
Adult Education and Workers’ Control
February 22, 2023
This is a guest post by Tony Simpson, from the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation and Spokesman Books. The ‘Knowledge is Power’ exhibition at Weston Gallery celebrates the University of Nottingham’s Adult Education Department. In the wake of the First World War, the Ministry of Reconstruction established a special committee which, in its final report in …
Experiencing Adult Education at Nottingham
November 21, 2022
This is a guest post by Mark Gilman, Professor of Economics at the University of Derby. Knowledge, Power and Class are words close to my heart. As a working-class lad who left school on a Friday in June 1976 and started work on the Monday, with little formal qualification, education left me feeling as though …
One hundred years on: New types of University and new possibilities for lifelong education?
October 21, 2022
This is a guest post by Dr Iain Jones, Honorary Assistant Professor at University of Nottingham. From 27 October 2022 – 12 March 2023, Lakeside Arts is hosting an exhibition ‘Knowledge is Power: Class, Community, and Adult Education’ and a series of lunchtime talks. The University established the first Department of Adult Education in 1920 …
Poetic Responses to Editing DH Lawrence
May 20, 2022
On 5 May 2022, 14 writers from the Writer Highway group, led by Cathy Grindrod, were invited to respond to our exhibition Editing DH Lawrence, running at Lakeside Arts until 29 May. Here are the poetic responses, check our other blog post for prose responses! Many thanks to all involved. Reflections on Editing DH Lawrence …
Reflections on Editing DH Lawrence
May 10, 2022
This is a guest post by Dr Rebecca Moore, Exhibitions Officer. As Editing DH Lawrence enters its fourth and final month at the Weston Gallery, my thoughts turn naturally to reflecting on the exhibition. After hosting many wonderful events, one question from visitors was often repeated: ‘What do you think Lawrence would have made of …
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