NOTTINGHAM AND ITS REGION 27 



full here. Within the area, however, are certain well-marked subdivisions 

 which will be described in turn. 



Geographical Setting 



The central unit of the Nottingham Region is, of course, the city itself. 

 Geographical factors, both regional and local, have favoured its growth 

 and development. Among the former is the character of the landscape 

 and in this connection the geological map, inset opposite page 48, presents 

 two striking features. One is the somewhat regular arrangement of no less 

 than seven different types of surface rocks forming belts which converge 

 upon the position occupied by the city, whilst the other is the manner in 

 which the valley of the Trent cuts across this pattern in a northeast — south- 

 west direction. The town originated where the valley touches the Bunter 

 Sandstone, a point towards which other belts of rocks converge, and the 

 present city boundary as fixed in 1932 encompasses portions of the Middle 

 Coal Measures, Permian (Magnesian) Limestone and Marl, Bunter Sand- 

 stone and Pebble Beds, Keuper Sandstones and Marls together with 

 stretches of the alluvium and gravels of the Trent. Among other large 

 towns only Bristol perhaps can show a comparable variety of geological 

 formations within its territory. Such a circumstance gives to the locality 

 an unusual diversity of surface features, soils and natural resources. 



Nottingham also occupies a marginal position between the uplands of 

 the Pennines represented by the bleak hilly region of Derbyshire and the 

 lowlands which lie to the east. Since the Trent Valley provides an axis 

 of movement from the heart of the Midlands to the Humber. north — 

 south routes developed at an early date, the position of the town became 

 therefore one of more than local importance, for several roads converged 

 upon it in order to cross the river. 



Of the local factors concerned in the site of Nottingham the Bunter 

 Sandstone, by reason of its lithological characters and surface topography, 

 exerted a profound influence. The frequent exposures of the bufl^-colour- 

 ed sandrock at the roadside, or beneath the walls of the older buildings, 

 or again in the form of bold cliffs as in the Caslle Rock give a character- 

 istic touch to the city environment. Numerous caves have been excavated 

 from the sandstone throughout history, and their preservation, in some 

 cases since prehistoric times, illustrates another feature of the rock, i.e., 

 that once excavated by man or even carved by erosive agencies it does 

 not readily crumble or fall away. Advantage is still taken of this fact, 

 for many a sandrock wall in the residential parts of Nottingham has been 

 hollowed out to provide a private lock-up garage. Typical caves occur 

 in the grounds of the University College overlooking the lake. Others 

 are of historic interest, e.g., those of the Rock Cemetery (Mansfield Road) 

 and those at the foot of the Castle which now form part of the remarkable 

 inn known as ' Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem '. 



The southern extremity of the main outcrop of the Bunter Sandstone 

 terminates in two hills between which is a broad hollow sloping gently 

 towards the Trent. Here is the site of early Nottingham. The hills 

 overlook the flat plain of the Trent by a sharp slope which in parts takes 

 the form of a cliff. This is well seen in the south face of the Castle Rock 



