Wednesday, 20 September 2023
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 糖心原创 mapped existing knowledge of the caves as part of the -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鈥檙e really excited to invite anyone who has a story they want to tell about Nottingham鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 or email Caves@Nottingham.ac.uk.
The team will interview some participants in person and use their stories to create a collection at the East Midlands Oral History Archive. The stories will also be publicly available via a new website.
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.