Old Market Square

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Old Market Square is an open town square in Nottingham, England, the largest such surviving in England, and forms the heart of the city of Nottingham.

One side of the Square is dominated by the Council House, which serves as the city hall. The bell inside the council house dome, named 'Little John', has the deepest tone of any bell in the country. The sound produced by the bell travels over 7 miles on a clear day, which leads to a claim that it is the country's loudest bell. This honour is actually held by London's Big Ben, which produces the loudest sound measured in decibels, but the sound travels a far shorter distance in London due to the landscape and the built-up nature of the surrounding districts. The Old Market Square is currently being redeveloped, and is due to be completed at the end of 2006[1].

Two large stone lions guard the Council House steps, and they have become a popular symbol of the city with younger residents, serving as a useful meeting point. They are known colloquially as "Brian" (the lion on the left hand side of the Council House steps) and "Ryan" (on the right hand side).

The Square contains two rectangular fountain pools, and has occasionally been filled with sand to create a beach‐like scene (Nottingham is 140 km from the coast). It is also the focal point of Nottingham's entry to the Britain in Bloom competition, taking the title three times (1997, 2001 and 2003).

Historically the Square forms a meeting place for the people of Nottingham and is also the location for local events, civic protests, royal visits, celebrations and public mourning and many of Nottingham's most defining moments have occurred here. Trophies won by Nottingham Forest Football Club including the European Cup and the F.A. Cup have all been held aloft in front of crowds here. Most recently in 2003 a memorial service to remember the life of Nottingham Forest's former manager Brian Clough was held there in front of national television cameras and thousands of local football supporters.

Locally the Square is often affectionately nicknamed 'Slab Square' due to the high numbers of concrete blocks forming it. The city coat of arms is painted in front of the Council House.

The Square was reconstructed after World War II and became an uneven area with several different height platforms creating a procession way. However the decline in the quality, changes in function and issues surrounding disabled access spurred a City Council led international redevelopment competition in 2003 known as Square One.

Construction of the new design got underway in 2004. The currently closed Square is scheduled to reopen before the end of 2006. The new Square will be a modern, single tier area, reflecting the history of the city including the recreation of an ancient border which once divided Nottingham. A small ampitheatre-like seating area will also allow small shows and concerts to be held there.

The Market Square was once at the heart of the city road network however today it is closed to all traffic except buses and the new Nottingham Express Transit (NET) which stops there. As well as many shops, bars and department stores, the Square is also home to the Nottingham City Transport Travel Centre . The city tourist information centre and Nottinghamshire Angel Row central library are also both just near the Square. The Bell Inn, thought to be one of the UK's oldest pubs dating back to around 1276, also sits at the back of the Square.

Folklore has it that it was in the Market Square where outlaw Robin Hood took advantage of an amnesty and won the coveted silver arrow in a contest devised by the Sheriff of Nottingham.

In December every year (except 2005 due to redevelopment works), the Square hosts a Christmas German Market and is the centre of local New Year's Eve celebrations. The Nottingham Christmas Lights Switch-On event also takes place here.

[edit] External links

• Old Market Square Official website, including images of the new square
• Old Market Square - The Open Guide to Nottingham
• Following the progress of the recent development (BBC Online)