People in Nottingham are being encouraged to share their stories and memories of the city's unique ancient caves, as part of a new research project.
There are more than 800 caves underneath Nottingham. They date back to the Middle Ages, and throughout the centuries, they've been used for many different purposes; from WW2 air raid shelters to cellar storage. Despite their important connection to the city, they remain relatively understudied.
In 2022, researchers at the University of Nottingham mapped existing knowledge of the caves as part of the AHRC-funded 'City of Caves Project'. The work highlighted the long memories and deep connections that Nottingham people have for the caves. Now, a new oral history project will capture those stories for the first time.
We're really excited to invite anyone who has a story they want to tell about Nottingham's caves to share it with us. Even if the story is more fiction than fact, it tells us a lot about the important role the caves play in Nottingham's urban identity. We anticipate uncovering new connections to the caves and unearthing more information about how these sites have been used and talked about in Nottingham's history.
The results of the oral history project will provide a wealth of data to inform further research into the social history of Nottingham's caves. It will also directly feed into plans for future research and enhance the city's visitor economy.
Researchers want to hear from anyone with memories of using the caves. They can contact the university online here
