The Nottingham Story

The origins of Nottingham go back may years with the first evidence of settlement dating from pre Roman times although it is clear that the Romans too lived in the area. An early name for Nottingham was "tigguo cobauc" which, translated means "a place of cavy dwellings"
However, Nottingham’s name as we know it now derives from later settlements which was built by Anglo-Saxon invaders after 6oo AD These settlements were named after their chieftain who was called Snot and who brought together his people in an area where the historic Lace Market in the City can now be found. Thus, Snot gave his name to Snotingaham – home (or town of the people of Chieftan Snot). ‘Inga’ meaning ‘the people of’ and ‘ham’ meaning ‘home’ or ‘ham’

In 877AD Nottingham was captured by the Vikings. The Vikings named many streets, or ‘Gates’ (from ‘Gata’) such as; PilcherGate (Pilcher meaning a maker of cloaks), CastleGate and GooseGate. Also, a Fletcher was a type of butcher, A lister was a dyer of clothes, A Barker was a leather tanner, A Bridler was a ironworker.

The Anglo-Saxons recaptured the town 150 years later.
By 1066 the Anglo-Saxons were engaged in a fight with the invading Normans of William the Conqueror and their spirited resistance led to the establishment of twin settlements, with the Normans encamped on Castle Hill, where they built the Nottingham Castle in 1068, and the Anglo-Saxons taking the area where the Lace market can now be found. The Norman settlement became known as the "French Borough" and the Anglo-Saxon settlement as the "English Borough".

Nottingham is mentioned in The Domesday Book as a place of 173 burgesses and 19 villagers. The record reveals that Hugh, who was the son of Baldric, the sheriff, built 13 new houses there

As the settlements grew, Nottingham became an important market town and regional centre. By the 11th. Century, it had the status of a Royal "burh" and had huge defences constructed which ran around the area of what is today the Lace Market.

By 1086 Nottingham had a population of around 1000 which rose to around 3000 in 1300. After dipping back to around 2000 in 1400 the population continued to rise, reaching a figure of roughly 286,000 today.

The buildings in medieval Nottingham were mainly constructed of wood, the exceptions being stone constructions like the Castle, churches including St. Mary’s, St. Peter’s and St. Nicholas’s and a handful of other important buildings. The town hosted two markets trading mainly leather, wool, cloth and pottery – a large affair on Saturdays in the market place and a weekday market at Weekday Cross near where the present Lace market now stands.

Through the years Nottingham grew from a thriving agricultural centre, to an area of traditional trades based on both rich natural resources and the developing skills of local people. The soft water supply, filtered through the sandstone which forms the foundation of the city, was ideal for the industries of, tanning, wool-dying and brewing.

Despite the demise of Nottingham castle in the 17th century, the city continued to grow, and life for Nottingham citizens moved on into the approaching boom period of the Industrial Revolution.

Whilst this was a period of industrial achievement it was also a time of industrial unrest through the emergence of the Luddites or machine breakers who feared the loss of their livelihood to the advance of new technology. Even the famous Lord Byron was moved to speak out on this subject as destruction and conflict gripped the Country.

However, time moved on and Nottingham in the following century became a centre of industrial achievement. Innovation gave a boost to the lace trade and engineering, spinning, dying and beer making continued to provide Nottingham people with a prosperous livelihood.

This information is Ó Southwold Primary School. Copying for Educational Purposes is allowed.