IV.

Education and Culture

The University of Nottingham (1881) and Nottingham Trent University (established 1992, formerly Nottingham Polytechnic) are both in the city of Nottingham. Nottingham High School, a public school, was founded in 1513.

The Robin Hood legend is of considerable importance in Nottinghamshire’s cultural life, particularly in its contribution to the tourist industry. Sherwood Forest was the “greenwood” home of the popular folk-hero, leader of a band of outlaws, all victims of injustice, who robbed the rich to give to the poor. Such a person may indeed have lived in Sherwood (or perhaps, as has been suggested, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire), but it is likely that he and his companions were a villainous band of ruthless cut-throats, rather than the romantic and highly principled characters of the legend. As for Robin Hood’s arch-enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham, the office of sheriff has existed for some 800 years, although nowadays it is a high-ranking post in the city council. A statue to Robin Hood has been erected outside Nottingham Castle (which, despite its name, is not a castle but a 17th-century manor house), supposedly the scene of many of his encounters with the Sheriff.

Samuel Butler, author of Erewhon, was born in Langar, a village some 10 km (6 mi) south-east of Nottingham, in 1835. Sir Paul Smith, the English fashion designer, was born in Nottingham and actor Donald Pleasance was born in Worksop. Newstead Abbey, a short distance north of Nottingham, is an Augustinian priory dating from the 12th century that was the home of Lord Byron, and now houses Byron memorabilia. The author D. H. Lawrence was born in Eastwood in 1885, where both his birthplace and a later home are preserved as museums. Nottingham was the birthplace in 1829 of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, and there is a Salvation Army Museum in the house where he was born.

Every year in July/August a Robin Hood festival is held in Sherwood Forest, complete with costumed characters and adventure trails. In October the annual “Goose Fair” arrives in Nottingham. Nothing to do with geese, the fair (with fairground rides and stalls) has been in existence since at least the mid-15th century and is one of the biggest in Europe.

The home ground of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is at Trent Bridge, Nottingham; it is also used as a venue for Test matches. The county is also home to three professional football teams, Notts County FC, Nottingham Forest FC, and Mansfield Town FC. The market town of Southwell has a well-known racecourse.