Author: watson

Events

Winter… already?!

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It’s been a great year for Watson Fothergill Walk!  Thank you to all the people who have joined tours of Nottingham’s great architecture, loads of you have returned for my new Art Deco tours and I’ve received some lovely 5-star reviews on Tripadvisor. Thank you everyone!

Thanks Christine G for the photo of me and my mate Agamemnon a.k.a. Left Lion.

All the tours will be back for more dates in 2025. Meanwhile, maybe you’d like to recommend the tours to a friend, buy a gift voucher for a future tour or leave me a review. Any of these help me to keep doing the tours and work on new routes around Nottingham.I do not have vouchers for the Deco in the Details tours, if you’d like to make a gift of tickets for these, please contact me.

I do not have vouchers for the Deco in the Details tours, if you’d like to make a gift of tickets for these, please contact me.

Events

Watson Fothergill Walk- Back in 2025

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Left Lion is paying attention! Photo: Christine Gaukroger

The “Winter Wonderland” in the centre of Nottingham means that I can’t do justice to the Watson Fothergill Walk route until 2025. Meanwhile there is one more (sold out) Deco in the Details walk to go or you can book a Hine Hike, Lace Market Heritage Tour or an Illustrated Talk for your group.

Drop me a line to organise your event.

Meanwhile, make sure you’re on the mailing list for updates and news of new walks coming up next year and follow WatsonFothergillWalk on Instagram for photos.

Research

Hire a House Historian

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I am now available to carry out research on the history of houses and the people who lived in them, in Nottingham and the surrounding area. I’m particularly interested in Victorian properties but will branch out where appropriate resources are available. 


If you’d like to see who lived in your house* through time or maybe you want to discover if a renowned architect was involved in designing your property, then please contact me to arrange a research package. 

For more details see the Hire a House Historian page here.

*or shop!

Have a look at some research I did last year on a house in Elm Bank, Mapperley Park… Inside Elm Bank

And here’s another house, this time in Chilwell, with Watson Fothergill connections that I looked into in 2021.

I’m not only interested in Fothergill houses… Nottingham has a lot of Victorian architecture and I’m always interested to find out more.

Admiral Duncan figure Head by Nigel King
Events

Deco in the Details… more dates

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It’s been great to try out these new tours – thanks to everyone who has joined me so far. The October date for Deco in the Details Part 1 is now full, but tickets are still available for Deco in the Details Part 2 on Sunday 27 October 10 am. 

There will  be more scheduled dates for these tours in November:

Deco in the Details Part 1 – Sunday 3 November, 10 am

Start and end at Nottingham’s Council House to look for traces of Art Deco in the architecture of the 1920s & 1930s. We’ll look at the rise of chain stores like Montague Burton, F.W. Woolworth, and Marks & Spencer, as well as the use of concrete in industrial buildings and the influence of car ownership on the city’s architecture in the 1930s.

Admiral Duncan figure Head by Nigel King
Figurehead on the former Admiral Duncan Pub, Lower Parliament St, Nottingham. Photo: Nigel King

Deco in the Details Part 2 – Sunday 17 November, 10 am

Starting outside Victoria Centre Clock Tower, we will look for more buildings by T.C. Howitt, see how indestructible the bomb-proof Fire Station really is, and trace the influence of shopping and entertainment on Nottingham’s changing layout. Seek out the remnants of the Art Deco era including hints of streamline moderne and even some Egyptian hanging gardens.

All tickets £15 each plus booking fee. Full details and tickets on Eventbrite

Deco in the Details: Traces of Art Deco in Nottingham Architecture

There are just 3 tickets remaining for 

Watson Fothergill Walk: Architecture of Victorian Nottingham on Sunday 20 October, 10 am

Due to the impending arrival of Winter Wonderland on Old Market Square –

Watson Fothergill Walk will return in 2025! – make sure you’re on the mailing list for updates.

In the meantime you can book walks for groups by emailing Lucy via this form

Art Deco, Events, New Tour

Nottingham: Deco in the Details Part 2 Work-in-Progress

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Thanks to everyone for the positive response to my Art Deco Architecture tour…I’ve discovered that Nottingham has enough buildings from the 1920s and 1930s to make two new walks (or a tour in two parts) – so I need to road-test the second part. There are a VERY LIMITED number of discounted tickets for a work-in-progress version of Deco in the Details Part 2 for Wednesday 11 September at 2 pm.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nottingham-deco-in-the-details-part-2-work-in-progress-tickets-999238588517?aff=WFWebsite

The new Deco in the Details walks will be run in full in October on Sunday 6 October (Part One) and Sunday 27 October (Part Two) both with 10 am starts.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nottingham-deco-in-the-details-part-1-tickets-995294601947?aff=WFWebsite
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nottingham-deco-in-the-details-part-2-tickets-995331612647?aff=WFWebsite

I hope to continue to run these in the future – so send me a message if you have a group that would be interested in a private booking.

Art Deco, Events, New Tour

Autumn walks…including new Art Deco tours

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Summer: Blink and you’ve missed it! Thanks to everyone who has joined me for a walk and hello to new visitors. I’ve got one more scheduled Watson Fothergill Walk to come in October and my new Deco in the Details walks are also coming up…read on!

August & September’s Watson Fothergill Walks are almost full – but there are still a few tickets available for 

The Carrington Crawl – Saturday 21 September, 1 pm. 

Explore some of the houses Fothergill built in Nottingham and discover his family life in the home he built for himself on Mapperley Road. 

What’s next for Watson Fothergill Walk?

There will be a city centre Watson Fothergill Walk on Sunday 20 October, 10 am

Explore the Nottingham buildings of Victorian Architect Watson Fothergill… also known as Fothergill Watson.

Thanks to the positive response to my Art Deco Architecture tour… there will be two new walks (or a tour in two parts) looking at Nottingham’s buildings of the 1920s and 1930s – 

Deco in the Details Parts 1 & 2.

These walks can be done in any order – you can choose to do either or both. 

The first will be a repeat of the tour commissioned by the Art Deco Society UK

Nottingham: Deco in the Details Part 1, Sunday, 6 October, 10 am

This walk explores Nottingham’s architecture from the 1920s and 1930s, starting and ending with T. Cecil Howitt’s Council House sculptures.

We’ll look at the rise of chain stores like Montague Burton, F.W. Woolworth, and Marks & Spencer, as well as the use of concrete in industrial buildings and the influence of car ownership on the city’s architecture in the 1930s.

The second is

Nottingham: Deco in the Details Part 2: Sunday 27, October, 10 am

This walk will cover the north side of Nottingham City Centre and finish at Sneinton Market. You’ll see the work of local architects, uncover how the Palais de Danse added a touch of glamour to Nottingham and seek out remnants of the Art Deco era, including hints of streamline moderne and even some Egyptian hanging gardens. Starts Outside Victoria Centre and finishes at The Bath Inn. 

All tickets are £15 plus Eventbrite booking fee.

Art Deco, Events, New Tour

New Walk! Deco in the Details

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My newest walk, Nottingham: Deco in the Details will be running for The Art Deco Society UK on Saturday 14 September, start 10 am.

This new walk looks at Nottingham’s architecture of the 1920s and 1930s and will explore the influence of Art Deco on the buildings in the city.

Tickets are available via The Art Deco Society UK – with a discount for members:

Nottingham Deco in the Details, Saturday 14 September, 10 am

I hope to rerun this walk and put together a second part of the tour that will cover the other side of town. These tours will be added to my regular event programme in due course.

Many of Nottingham’s Art Deco-influenced buildings are further out of the city centre, so I am also working on a self-guided tour that makes them easier to find! Watch this space or sign up for the Watson Fothergill Walk newsletter to receive updates.

Events, New Tour

August & September 2024 now booking

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Thanks to everyone who joined me for a walk in the last few weeks. Here are a few more chances to enjoy Watson Fothergill Walk and The Carrington Crawl, plus a new walk for Art Deco Society UK.

There are tickets available for the following dates for the original city centre walk:

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 28 July, 10 am

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 18 August, 10 am

Watson Fothergill Walk, Thursday 29 August, 6 pm

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 8 September, 2 pm

The Carrington Crawl – looking at houses by Fothergill and his Chief Assistant L.G. Summers in Mapperley Park, Sherwood Rise and Carrington:

The Carrington Crawl, Saturday 21 September, 1 pm

All tickets are £15 each (plus Eventbrite fee). 

Deco in the Details for Art Deco Society UK

I will be running my new walk, Nottingham: Deco in the Details on Saturday 14 September at the request of the Art Deco Society UK. Join Lucy to look for traces of Art Deco in the 1920s & 1930s architecture of Nottingham. 

Tickets are available from Ticketsource:

Deco in the Details, Saturday 14 September, 10 am. 

Become a member of Art Deco Society UK for just £15 per year.

Events

See Nottingham in Summer 2024

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Have you joined the Watson Fothergill Walk yet? Many subscribers have already enjoyed my tour of Nottingham’s architecture (thank you!) but maybe you’ve been putting it off? There’s no better time to give it a try or to tell friends who you think would enjoy looking up!

Booking is now open for July and new dates in August (click the dates below to visit ticket pages).  All tickets £15 each plus Eventbrite fee.

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 28 July, 10 am

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 18 August, 10 am

Watson Fothergill Walk, Thursday 29 August 6 pm

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 18 August, 10 am

Or do you have a small group who would like a private tour? I can conduct the Watson Fothergill Walk or Hine Hike for you and your group.

Prices start from £20 per person (minimum 6 people) See updated terms and conditions.

Email me to choose a date and time.

Deco In the Details

If you’ve already completed my other walks, maybe you could help me design the next one? Deco in The Details is coming soon. I will be exploring Nottingham architecture and social history of the 1920s and 1930s.

This work-in-progress event will be on Thursday 18 July, 6 pm

Tickets have been simplified and are £10 each (plus booking fee). I also hope to run this tour again in the future. Many thanks and hope to see you soon – Lucy.

Events, New Tour

July dates and a new work-in-progress

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A couple of Watson Fothergill Walks in July, a work-in-progress Art Deco walk and my diary is open for private bookings. 

There is ticket availability for guided tours of Nottingham’s architecture coming up on the following dates: 

Hine Hike: The buildings of Thomas Chambers Hine Sunday 30 June 2 pm

Watson Fothergill Walk, Architecture of Victorian Nottingham Sunday 28 July, 10 am

All tickets are £15 each plus Eventbrite booking fee. All details on the Eventbrite pages or at watsonfothergillwalk.com

Deco In The Details: A new work-in-progress guided tour of Nottingham architecture.

Deco In The Details.

I have been commissioned by the Art Deco Society UK to put together a walking tour of Nottingham. I’m excited about this as I’ve wanted to design a new tour looking at Nottingham’s architecture of the early 20th century and I’m always on the look out for details in buildings. I would like a small group (preferably those who have already been on my other walks) to help me finalise the route and provide feedback so I can complete the tour. Tickets for this work-in-progress event are available for Thursday 18 July, 6 pm suggested donation £10 – please note these tickets can only be booked one at a time – please contact me if you have any problems booking!

Private bookings

My diary is now open for bookings if you’d like a private tour for your group then fill out the contact form to send an email with preferred dates and times, the size of the group and whether you have any special requirements. I can often do weekdays and summer evenings. Minimum charges apply. Maximum group size 20 people.