SHERWOOD FOREST, CITY OF CAVES AND NOTTINGHAM CASTLE

Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre is near the village of Edwinstowe and free to the public. There is a visitor centre, shop and short film to watch about Robin Hood. In a 10 to 15 minute walk you can go see the Major Oak Tree. It is a 1,000 year old tree. Everything was decorated for Christmas. 

An image of Robin hood displayed near many of the trees

They are ready for Christmas

Elder Allen has me right where he wants me. HELP!

Look who we saw in Sherwood forest.

1,000 year old Oak tree

Next we made it to Nottingham and to the City of Caves. A hidden world was beneath the City of Nottingham where the poorest of residents lived in Nottingham's smelliest slum and narrow marshes.  

They tanned the leather with human waste mushing it with their feet. The smell had to be unbearable. 

Here is the toilet they used. Yucky. 

The kitchen was much better. 

He is not so such he liked this tour. 

We found a red phone booth. I am practicing using the phone so I can call home in a few weeks for Christmas. 

Sister Wilson got this band to play "Joy to the World."

We found a big shoe. 

Streets of Nottingham

By time we got to the castle it was closed. This nice guide talked to us and gave us a history of the castle. In the Middle Ages it was a major royal fortress and occasional royal residence. In decline by the 16th century, it was largely demolished in 1649, with the Duke of Newcastle later building a mansion on the site. This was burnt out by rioters in 1831 and left as a ruined shell by the Dukes; later being adapted to create an art gallery and museum, which the building is still used as today. Little of the original castle survives, but sufficient portions remain to give an impression of the layout of the site.

The Trip to Jerusalem Inn claims to be the oldest pub in Britain. It dates back to 1189 AD. The original castle at Nottingham was established on the rock in 1068 and the brew-house was one of the first additions. Water was unsafe for drinking so ale was drunk instead. The caves at the foot of the rock was ideal for brewing, providing a tailor-made air-conditioning system and a large chimneys to cope with fires of the brewing process. It is assume the brew-house was in operation by around 1070 and could have been use before 1070. 

 This is what the inside looks like right up against the rock. The place was crowded with people. 

It was a long day and there was lots to see. It was totally worth seeing Nottingham and Sherwood Forrest. It gave us a better idea what it was like back in the days of Robin hood.