Hosiery and lace were the foundations upon which Nottingham's properity was built. The stockings came first - a knitting machine for these had been invented by a Nottinghamshire man as early as 1589. In fact, the entire history of lacemaking is beautifully explained in converted row of Georgian terraces. Nottingham is not complete without the mention of Robin Hood, the partly mythical figure whose statue is in the castle grounds. Although the castle itself has Norman foundations, the present structure is largely Victorian. It is now a museum.
At the heart of the Robin Hood legend is the magnificant former Royal Hunting Forest of Sherwood. Today it is a County Park and Visitor Centre with 400 acres of ancient oaks including the mightly 'Major Oak - Robin Hood's favourite hideout. Unfortunately, we do not have time to visit it.
Nottingham is also famous for its network of 700 years old man-made
caves which have been previously used as dwelling places, storage rooms,
pub cellows, a unique underground Medieval leather tannery and more recently,
as air-raid shelters during World War 2.