Nottingham Castle

Nottingham Ducal Mansion

We opted to drive to Nottingham- another wonderful driving experience. For the most part, the drive wasn't too bad aside from one of the larger roundabouts. Nottingham Castle (or now ducal Mansion) has an exciting history, and I'm not just talking about Robin Hood! 

After King Richard the Lionheart, Prince John, Robin Hood, and the Sheriff of Nottingham, there was Queen Isabella of France and her lover, Roger Mortimer who, together, had the king murdered. The queen's son, Edward III, upon turning 18, captured the queen and Mortimer by using the underground caves that ran beneath the castle, and it is now known as Mortimer's Hole. The Queen was sent to Castle Rising under house arrest. 

Years later, after the English Civil War, the castle was demolished due to its poor state. The First Duke of Newcastle purchased the sight in the 17th century and built the ducal mansion. In the 1800s during parliamentary reformation, the mansion was looted and burned as a retaliation to poor living conditions the people of Nottingham suffered during the Industrial Revolution. The building was left in its burnt state for 45 years before being converted to a museum. It was the first museum to open outside of London!

After we toured Nottingham Castle and the caves, we ate lunch at the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem when upon leaving, we ran into Robin Hood and Little John on their way in!