History
See also: History of Nottingham
In Anglo-Saxon times, around 600 AD[citation needed] the site formed part of the Kingdom of Mercia and was known in the Brythonic language as Tigguo Cobauc,meaning Place of Caves. In Welsh it is known poetically as Y Ty Ogofog, "The Cavey Dwelling".[5] When it fell under the rule of a Saxon chieftain named Snot[6] it became known as "Snotingaham"; the homestead of Snot's people (Inga = the people of; Ham = homestead). Snot brought together his people in an area now known as the Lace Market.
Nottingham was captured in 867 by Danish Vikings[citation needed] and later became one of the Five Burghs – or fortified towns – of The Danelaw.
In the 11th century Nottingham Castle was constructed on a sandstone outcrop by the River Leen. The Anglo-Saxon settlement developed into the English Borough of Nottingham and housed a Town Hall and Law Courts. A settlement also developed around the castle on the hill opposite and was the French borough supporting the Normans in the castle. Eventually, the space between was built on as the town grew and the Old Market Square became the focus of Nottingham several centuries later. On the return of Richard Coeur de Lion from theCrusades, the castle stood out in Prince John's favour. So, it was besieged by Richard, and after a sharp conflict, captured.[7]
By the 15th century, Nottingham had established itself as the centre of a thriving export trade in religious sculpture made from alabaster[8]The town became a county corporate in 1449[9] giving it effective self-government, in the words of the charter, "for eternity". The Castle and Shire Hall were expressly excluded and technically remained as detached Parishes of Nottinghamshire.
During the Industrial Revolution, much of Nottingham's prosperity was founded on the textile industry; in particular, Nottingham was an internationally important centre of lace manufacture. However, the rapid and poorly planned growth left Nottingham with the reputation of having the worst slums in the British Empire outside India.[citation needed] Residents of these slums rioted in 1831, in protest against the Duke of Newcastle's opposition to the Reform Act 1832, setting fire to his residence, Nottingham Castle.
In common with the UK textile industry as a whole, Nottingham's textile sector fell into headlong decline in the decades following World War II, as British manufacturers proved unable to compete on price or volume with the output of factories in the Far East and South Asia.[citation needed] Very little textile manufacture now takes place in Nottingham, but the city's heyday in this sector endowed it with some fine industrial buildings in the Lace Market district. Many of these have been restored and put to new uses.
Nottingham was one of the boroughs reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, and at that time consisted of the parishes of Nottingham St Mary, Nottingham St Nicholas and Nottingham St Peter. It was expanded in 1877 by adding the parishes of Basford, Brewhouse Yard, Bulwell, Radford, Sneinton, Standard Hill and parts of the parishes of West Bridgford, Carlton, Wilford (North Wilford). In 1889 Nottingham became a county borough under the Local Government Act 1888. City status was awarded as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria, being signified in a letter from the Prime Minister the Marquess of Salisbury to the Mayor, dated 18 June 1897. Nottingham was extended in 1933 by adding Bilborough and Wollaton, parts of the parishes of Bestwood Park and Colwick, and a recently developed part of the Beeston Urban District. A further boundary extension was granted in 1951 when Clifton and Wilford (south of the River Trent) were incorporated into the city.[10][11]
Demographic evolution of Nottingham
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Electric trams revolutionised public transport in Nottingham on their inception in 1901; they would serve the city for 35 years until the bus network was expanded in 1936. The city's road network was improved drastically between 1922 and 1932 when a new dual carriageway was built. Housing conditions also began to improve the city's poorer residents at this time, when the first council houses were built on new suburban estates to rehouse families from slum clearances. Mass private house building also took place, with the process continuing to boom until some 30 years after World War II ended in 1945.
Trams made their comeback in Nottingham after 68 years when a new tram network was opened in 2004.[12]
To the sporting world, Nottingham's biggest claim to fame was undoubtedly being home to the world's oldest professional club, Notts County, who were formed in 1862. However, Notts County's subsequent history has proven to be a relatively low profile one, and in 1975 a significant event occurred which would change the sporting image of Nottingham forever.
Brian Clough, who had managed nearby Derby County to Football League First Division title glory in 1972, was appointed manager ofNottingham Forest, then struggling in the Football League Second Division, in January 1975. Forest reached the First Division in 1977 and incredibly won the First Division title a year later - only the third English club in history to win a top division league title a year after promotion. They were also Football League Cup winners that year and would retain that trophy a year later. They also won the European Cup in 1979 and retained it a year later, adding two more Football League Cups to their honours list before Clough finally retired as Forest were relegated in 1993.[13] Nottingham Forest consistently fielded international class players during Clough's management; the most high profile being Trevor Francis, who joined the club in February 1979 from Birmingham City as Britain's first £1million footballer.[14] However, the club has declined since Clough's retirement, having only played a total of four seasons in the top flight since his retirement, the most recent ending in 1999.[15]
[edit]Government
Nottingham is represented by three tiers of elected government, Nottingham City Council ("local"), UK Parliament ("national"), and European Parliament ("Europe"). The city also has a Lord Mayor; though now simply a ceremonial position, in the past the office carried considerable authority, with executive powers over the finances and affairs of the city council. As of 2010, the Lord Mayor of Nottingham is Coun. Brian Grocock. The city is the seat of regional government bodies the East Midlands Development Agency (including the functions of the now defunct East Midlands Regional Assembly) and Government Office East Midlands.
Emergency services are provided by Nottinghamshire Police, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance
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