Nottingham Audio Tour: Brilliance of Bulwell audio tour

Stops on this tour

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   Church of St Mary the Virgin and All Souls, Bulwell

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   First things first, this church is so special that it's actually a Grade II listed building! That means it's officially recognized by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media,…Read moreShow less

   First things first, this church is so special that it's actually a Grade II listed building! That means it's officially recognized by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport as a place of great architectural and historic interest. Pretty fancy, huh? Now, let's go back in time a little bit. The original church that stood here dates all the way back to possibly the 12th century. But unfortunately, Mother Nature wasn't very kind, and a storm in 1843 caused some serious damage. So, what did they do? They rolled up their sleeves and rebuilt the church between 1849 and 1850, under the watchful eye of architect Henry Isaac Stevens. Fast forward to November 4, 1850, and the church was consecrated by the Right Revd. Dr. Kaye, Bishop of Lincoln. You can just imagine the excitement and the celebration that must have taken place on that day! But the story doesn't end there. Later on, in 1900, a talented architect named William Arthur Heazell added a beautiful chancel to the church. And in 1946, they even threw in a north chapel for good measure. They just couldn't stop adding more lovely spaces! Now, let's talk music. This place has some serious sound coming from its organs. In 1852, the assistant organist of St. Paul's Cathedral, George Cooper, opened a brand spanking new organ here. And that's not the end of it! In 1872, Forster and Andrews gifted the church with a fantastic pipe organ that is still in use today. You've got to hear it to believe it! And hey, don't forget to look up! The tower here is home to eight beautiful bells, courtesy of John Taylor and Company of Loughborough. They've been chiming away since 1919-1920 and even 1860. Talk about melodies that stand the test of time! Oh, and by the way, the church's old clock was retired in 1949 and replaced with a shiny new one by G. & F. Cope. This baby has an all-electric mechanism, so you can bet it keeps perfect time. So there you have it, the Church of St Mary the Virgin and All Souls in Bulwell, a place steeped in history, music, and lively stories. It's no wonder that it's such a beloved landmark in the heart of Nottingham. Shall we move on to the next stop on our adventure?

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   Old Town Hall, Bulwell

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   Ah, welcome to the Old Town Hall in Bulwell! This place is full of history and has a bit of a split personality. On the ground floor, it's a fancy furniture showroom, but upstairs…Read moreShow less

   Ah, welcome to the Old Town Hall in Bulwell! This place is full of history and has a bit of a split personality. On the ground floor, it's a fancy furniture showroom, but upstairs on the first floor, you'll find a concert hall. They definitely know how to make the most out of this building! Now, let me take you back in time a bit. In the 1870s, Bulwell was growing like crazy, thanks to the brickmaking industry. The local board of health decided they needed a fancy Town Hall to keep up with all the progress. They picked a spot right next to the River Leen, which was quite fitting if you ask me. Construction started right away, and they even managed to have one meeting in the building before Nottingham Corporation swooped in and made Bulwell part of their territory. The building wasn't fully completed until 1894, but boy, was it worth the wait! It was designed in the Victorian style, with beautiful red brick and some fancy architectural details. If you look at the front, you'll see a symmetrical design with five bays, and a central section featuring columns and arches. I bet they wanted to make a good impression on everyone entering the town. The inside of this place used to be a concert hall, complete with a small gallery and a proscenium arch. Can you imagine all the music and variety performances that must have taken place here? And in the early 20th century, it even became a cinema! From concerts to movies, this place has seen it all. After the Second World War, the Old Town Hall became the Embassy Ballroom, where people would gather for a good old dance. Talk about some fancy footwork! In the 1970s, they added an extension to create more office space. Gotta keep up with the times, right? And over the years, the tenants have changed. Now, you'll find a furniture showroom, a dance theater school, and even a boxing and kickboxing facility. Quite the diverse bunch, if you ask me. So, take a moment to soak in the history of this place. It's a combination of tradition, entertainment, and modern-day life all rolled into one. And if you're lucky, maybe you'll catch a show in that concert hall or witness some fancy footwork on the dance floor. Enjoy your time here at the Old Town Hall in Bulwell!

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   Keuper Waterstones

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   Now, hold onto your hats, because we're about to dive into some prehistoric fun! The Keuper Waterstones preserve ichnofossils of some fancy-sounding creatures that roamed the…Read moreShow less

   Now, hold onto your hats, because we're about to dive into some prehistoric fun! The Keuper Waterstones preserve ichnofossils of some fancy-sounding creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago during the Middle Triassic period. We're talking about Varanopus aff. curvidactylus, Swinnertonichnus mapperleyensis, Deuterotetrapous plancus, Chirotherium swinnertoni, Microsauropus acutipes, and Erpetopus willistoni. Phew, that's a mouthful! These footprints give us a glimpse into the ancient world, where these creatures left their mark in the muddy ground. It's like a dinosaur dance party happened right here, except instead of the Macarena, they were doing the Triassic Twist! Now, I won't bore you with too many scientific details, but let's just say these footprints are pretty old, dating back to the Middle Triassic period, specifically the Anisian stage. Can you imagine what life was like back then? Dinosaurs ruling the Earth, volcano eruptions, and maybe even some fashionable lava flow hairstyles. So, if you're a fan of history, fossils, or just love getting lost in a good book, the Keuper Waterstones is the place to be. Take a stroll through the aisles, grab a book, and transport yourself back in time to the days of the Triassic creatures doing their funky footsteps. Alright, my friend, hop on over to our next stop, where we'll discover even more fascinating places in Nottingham!

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