Legends, legacies, laws and life in Notts since 1155

Nottinghamshire Archives prepare for Nottinghamshire Day on August 25th

Notts Day might just be one day a year, but Nottinghamshire Archives has over 317,200 days and over four million documents of Nottinghamshire history!

Nottinghamshire Archives, located near Nottingham Castle, is a treasure trove of historical documents, records, and photographs that tell the story of Nottinghamshire and Nottingham from the twelfth century to the present day.

The archives delivered by Inspire on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, hold over four million historic documents, ranging from parchment deeds and rolls to maps and plans, from parish registers and wills to letters and diaries, from newspapers and posters to photographs and films. Among these documents, there are some remarkable examples that shed light on the medieval history of the county, from the legend of Robin Hood to the life of monks and nuns, from the crimes and punishments of the time to the oldest document in the collection.

As Nottinghamshire residents prepare to visit Sherwood Forest for the Robin Hood Festival on Sunday 25th August to celebrate Notts Day, the Nottinghamshire Archives team are keen to share what they know about the real Robin Hood and his connection to the county. According to Nottinghamshire Archives, there is evidence that some real-life outlaws did take refuge in Sherwood Forest, the vast woodland that covered much of the county in the Middle Ages. The archives hold a rare 13th century document called the 'forest book', which records the laws and regulations of the royal forest, including the penalties for poaching and trespassing. The forest book also mentions the Vikings, who had a strong influence on the region and gave many places their names, such as Thoresby and Ollerton. Edwinstowe is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ‘Edenestou’.

On a recent visit to the archives, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health at Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Scott Carlton, said: “I saw firsthand on my recent tour through the archives the journey that documents take when they arrive.

“It was fascinating to hear that anyone can give a document to the Nottinghamshire archives and that when this happens, they are often kept in a freezer so that the conservation team can check for contaminations which could damage the document.

“The temperature controlled strong room is home to countless items in the archives and just one of the things I was able to see on my tour was the Forest Book. As the county councillor for Sherwood Forest, and with Nottinghamshire Day almost upon us, it was interesting to hear about some of the history of the area.

“The Nottinghamshire Archives are a treasure trove of history but what I found equally as interesting was how more recent events will now make their way into the archives. I was lucky enough to see a very poignant piece about the covid-19 lockdowns which included images of Nottinghamshire residents and quotes about their experiences – one of which was of a new mother with her baby who explained that the safest thing she could do for him during that time was to close the door to friends and family.

“Perhaps in centuries to come Nottinghamshire residents will look back on more recent entries as we now look back to history including the forest book.”

Ruth Imeson, Heritage Services Manager at Inspire said; “Nottinghamshire Archives has many fascinating stories to tell about the county from the 1155 Charter of Henry II, a document that predates the Magna Carta by 40 years, to the present day. Notts day is a great to celebrate one of our most enduring legends, Robin Hood but there is so much more to discover.”

Back in the 21st century, you can visit Sherwood Forest on Sunday 25th August in celebration of all things Notts. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy a range of activities including craft making workshops, Outlaw Orienteering, poetry writing workshops - not to mention a whole lot of festival fun at Robin Hood Festival with archery, historical re-enactments, music, comedy acts, and much more. For more information visit Nottinghamshire.gov.uk/nottsday

If you are interested in discovering more about Nottinghamshire's past, why not pay a visit to the Archives and see what you can find? You can also join the Friends of Nottinghamshire Archives, a voluntary organisation that supports the work of the Archives and organises events and activities for its members. For more information, visit inspireculture.org.uk/archives.