Department of Classics and Archaeology

'Echoes': The City of Caves Oral History Project

Project summary

There are more than 800 caves in the city of Nottingham. From Medieval malting to private cinemas, they have been used in innumerable different ways throughout the city’s history. 

From March 2023 to June 2024, a team of staff and volunteers at the University of Nottingham recorded a selection of people's histories of the caves. These included experiences of  working in caves connected to pub premises, excavating caves as a part of an archaeological team, and holding tours, talks and even poetry events in these inspiring spaces. 

Photograph of the steps leading out of the caves beneath Wollaton Hall.
Steps leading out of the cave system beneath Wollaton Hall. Photographer: Marcus Holdsworth
 
 

The audio files and transcripts are in the process of being deposited at Manuscripts and Special Collections at the University of Notttingham and we will update this webpage with links to the catalogue records once they are available for the public to access.

'Echoes' is part of the City of Caves project.

Do you have any further questions?

Whether you are a community archaeologist, a cave owner, an independent researcher or have any information you would like to share or questions you would like to ask, please get in touch with the project team here.

Email us

A black and white photograph of men in a cave, two on an upper level and one emerging from a lower level. Photo is from the Peverel Research Group Annual Report 1951.

Photo from The Peverel Research Group Annual Report, 1951.

 

Department of Classics and Archaeology

University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

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