Miner2Major is a Landscape Partnership scheme, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, focusing on the natural and cultural heritage of the Sherwood Forest area. It is one of the aims of Miner2Major to explore and celebrate the built heritage of its area.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Historic Environment Officer for Buildings, Janine Buckley, delved into the country house stables of the Sherwood Forest region. Often overlooked in historical narratives, this new publication tells their story.

Book cover of 'Country House Stables of Nottinghamshire'

The horse was vital to the country estate. Stables to accommodate carriage and riding horses as well as hunters and racehorses were erected on a grand scale. Just as horses were status symbols, the buildings that housed them conveyed their owner’s status both in their external architecture and as technologically advanced buildings that restored horses back to full health after work.

Through four case studies (Rufford Abbey, Rufford Farm Stud, Park Hall and Newstead Abbey), this publication examines the form and function of country house stables, the architectural significance of the buildings, their history, and their eventual adaptation for other purposes. Discover how the buildings themselves reveal details of those who worked in them, the experience of the horses that lived in them, and the relationships between man and horse. Learn about messages found under floorboards and how the marks made by horses tell their own stories.

Printed copies of Country House Stables of Nottinghamshire are available free of charge in larger Nottinghamshire libraries and The Book Case bookshop in Lowdham and Five Leaves bookshop in Nottingham. It is also available to download as an e-book here.

Links to the Historic Environment Record:

Rufford Abbey Stables

Rufford Stud Farm Stables

Park Hall Stables

Newstead Abbey Stables

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Pubs have been an important part of life in Nottinghamshire for centuries, not only providing refreshments but as the focus of community life. The origin of pubs can be traced back to the Roman period when ‘Tabernae' selling wine were set up along roads and in towns. In the Medieval period, Alehouses emerged. These were private homes where the householder brewed ale. The brewing process meant ale was safer to drink than water. Taverns were built to accommodate more people and to offer food, and larger Inns were built to include lodgings and accommodation for travellers. Collectively, these establishments are known as public houses (pubs).

Many old pubs are listed by Historic England or Locally Listed by local planning authorities to conserve them as an important part of our cultural heritage. More than 200 public houses are recorded in the Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record (HER). Use this link here and enter ‘public houses’ to see the complete list.

Nottingham has a claim to the oldest surviving pub in England - the famous ‘Trip to Jerusalem’ inn carved into the rock below the castle, is said to date to 1189 AD. It is reputed to have been used as a recruitment centre for knights signing up to join King Richard I on the Crusades. The earliest parts of the timber structure date that survive today, date to the early 17th century. The pub was Grade II listed in 1952.

Photograph of Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Pub

Above: The famous Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem pub

Many of our old pub buildings have historic value. They often retain original features such as timber frames, flagstone floors, and leaded windows. Their building style, construction type and materials vary. The name of the pub often reflects local history, referring to historical people, landscape features, animals, hobbies and occupations.

Pub names are often based on heraldic symbols. The most common pub name in Britain is The Red Lion, originally the heraldic symbol of King James I. Six are recorded in the Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record (two are now domestic houses). Other heraldic symbols include Lions, Dragons, Unicorns, Griffin, and Crowns.

Examples include:

Photograph of the 18th-century Crown Inn at East Markham

Above: The 18th-century 'Crown Inn' at East Markham. Check out the HER record here

Other pub names refer directly to Kings and Queens, famous people and local aristocracy:

Photograph of the sixteenth century ‘The Queens Head’ at Newark

Above: The sixteenth century ‘The Queens Head’ at Newark. Check out the HER record here

Photograph of The Manvers Arms (Radcliffe on Trent)

Above: 'The Manvers Arms' at Radcliffe on Trent. Check out the HER record here

Other pub names can give us clues about the landscape, names such as The Willow Tree, and Bridge Tavern. Names may be based on local wildlife, such as The Black Swan or The Fox. Some tell us about the interactions between humans and animals, The Butcher and the Bull or The Jolly Angler or even domestic animals like The Greyhound. Other pub names mention local industry and pastimes: Miners, Blacksmiths, Carpenters, Gardeners, and Cricketers to name a few.

Photograph of The Old Greyhound Public House at Aslockton

Above: The Old Greyhound Public House at Aslockton. An early nineteenth-century stable and coach house. Check out the HER record here

Like the rest of the UK, Nottinghamshire has seen a decline in the number of pubs over the last couple of decades. Increased costs, changing drinking habits and the smoking ban have made running traditional pubs more difficult and resulted in the closure of many pubs. Often the buildings are converted into homes or businesses. Statutory Listing, Local Listing and Listing as Assets of Community Value (ACV) are all designed to conserve these historic buildings.