Aye, traveler, as you walk along, you’ll see the magnificent St Nicholas Church ahead. Look to the left and you'll spot an impressive medieval structure with red-brick walls and a sturdy square tower reaching towards the heavens. The tower is adorned with arched windows, and patches of lighter stone frame the edges, adding to its ancient charm. The surrounding trees on both sides lend a touch of greenery, contrasting beautifully with the solid brick façade.
St Nicholas Church, known to the locals as St Nic's, holds a storied past, woven deeply into the fabric of Nottingham's history. This fine parish church under the Anglican diocese of Southwell has stood here, in one form or another, since the eleventh or twelfth century. Ah, if only these walls could speak, they’d recount tales as old as the times when I, Robin Hood, roamed these lands.
Back in 1643, during the tumultuous days of the English Civil War, the original church was destroyed. The Royalists, in a daring move, set up camp in the tower and laid siege to the Castle garrison, but the Governor of the Castle, Colonel Hutchinson, had other plans. He ordered the church to be demolished, leaving a void for almost three decades. Only in 1671 did construction commence anew, and by 1678, the church ye see today was completed. The fact that this structure holds the stories of centuries is evident in its very foundation.
The registers of marriages, burials, and baptisms beginning in 1562, speak of generations and legacies, while old documents from 1671 record church property inventories and meetings. Imagine, the very ground you stand on hasn't hosted a burial since 1881, those resting here surely have stories to share.
Now, as with any good tale, there’s a bit of grandeur. The church once housed an organ with intriguing companions-rods, curtains, bassoons, and a serpent! Over time, the organ was upgraded to an electronic one in 2010, bringing modernity to this historic edifice.
So, take a moment to admire this Grade II* listed building of more than local interest, where the echoes of Nottingham's medieval past blend seamlessly with the present. And who knows, if you wander close, you might even hear an ancient melody, or perhaps a whisper of an old ballad sung by a dashing outlaw from Sherwood Forest. Onward, to explore more tales of Nottingham!
