Category: Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

Vat & Fiddle Pub Nottingham
Art Deco, Events, Mansfield, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

More Art Deco Pubs & Mansfield Meander

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Extra dates for my new projects! Plus more Watson Fothergill Walks this summer.

Hello to new subscribers, and thank you to everyone who has already joined me for a walk or talk so far…

I’m lining up to repeat my new Art Deco Pubs talk at The Abdication on 22 July. This one is now SOLD OUT, so I’m staging it again, this time at The Vat & Fiddle in their Golding’s Room, on Tuesday 19 August, doors 6.30 pm. Tickets £10 (including fees) from Eventbrite or from the pub if you’d like to pay in cash. 

The Vat & Fiddle, Architect WB Starr & Hall, 1937-8, previously known as The Grove, Miami, Ziggy’s, Tom Hoskins… Photo: Lucy Brouwer

I’m also offering a shorter version of Watson Fothergill Walk in honour of the 184th anniversary of his birth on Saturday 12 July, 2 pm. This was organised to coincide with a talk about architect George Gilbert Scott at Bromley House Library. We will explore some of Scott’s influence on Fothergill’s work and take a leisurely stroll back to the Library to look in the garden. It was initially only open to Bromley House Library members, but if you’re not a member and would like to join in, you can visit as my guest (as long as you’re on your best behaviour!) 

Tickets for the Shorter Fothergill Birthday Walk here. 

There are just 3 tickets remaining for the Hine Hike on Sunday 27 July, 2 pm.

After the amazing response to the release of tickets for The Mansfield Meander, I’ve added a new date – Sunday, 3 August, 3 pm. Tickets here. We will explore some of Fothergill’s early buildings and look for traces of his work on the streets of his home town. 

The next Carrington Crawl – a look at the work of Fothergill and his chief assistant LG Summers in Mapperley Park, Sherwood Rise and Carrington is on Saturday, 27 September, 1 pm. This finishes up Clawson Lodge Ukrainian Cultural Centre with a chance for a cuppa and a look at their turret! 

Extra turret! Clawson Lodge. Photo: Lucy Brouwer

There are a couple of summer dates scheduled for the original Watson Fothergill Walk, these are Sunday mornings, in an attempt to beat the rush of Nottingham city centre in the holiday period… Sunday, 17 August, 10 am and Sunday, 7 September, 10 am. All ticket links and info here. I hope you can join me. 

I’ve got limited availability for private weekday walks this summer – so send me a message if you’d like to bring a group of 6 or more on The Watson Fothergill Walk, Hine Hike or Deco in the Details.

Research, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

Another Fothergill on the market

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A couple of small flats are for sale in another Fothergill building, the former Marhill Brewery building at Carlton, to the north of the city centre.

The former Marhill Brewery, Carlton from the listing for a flat in the upper floor on Rightmove

Originally built for Mr Vickers in 1899, it was converted to residential use around 2005. It seems that the Brewery was quite a short-lived enterprise, The Vickers family held the licence at The Black’s Head pub close by in Carlton in the late 1800s.

“Brewing in Nottinghamshire” has an older picture of the building and states that the Carlton Brewery was short-lived. With Mrs Vickers there in 1902 and Willam (her son?) there between 1904-1906. It was sold in 1904, 1906 and 1909. It became a laundry, then a print works and then it was used as a dye works owned by the Ilkeston Hosiery Finishing Company. The sequence of these changes is not entirely clear according to the official listing on Historic England.

This building is too far out of the city centre to feature on my tour but you can reach it by bus then walk from Carlton Square.

More pictures of my FothergillSpotting on the Watson Fothergill Walk Instagram!

Events, Lawrence G Summers, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

Spotlight on The Carrington Crawl

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The Carrington Crawl is my deep dive into the history and architecture of the houses built by architect Watson Fothergill and his chief assistant Lawrence George Summers in Mapperley Park, Sherwood Rise and Carrington, just outside Nottingham city centre. On this walk, you’ll find out more about Fothergill’s family home and his life there with his wife and seven children. You’ll also discover the two most complete known designs carried out by Fothergill’s talented Chief Assistant, a fine architect in his own right, L.G. Summers, FRIBA.

One of the houses that features on the tour is St Andrew’s House, on Mapperley Road which happens to be on the market at the moment.

A rare view of St Andrew’s House, Mapperley Road. On the market as we speak. Photo from the listing on Rightmove.

Fothergill actually added to an existing house and you can see his characteristic polychrome brickwork, tourelle with spire roof and squat attic floor with brick nogging, along with flourishes in the windows, stained glass and other features. The house was extended for Dr Stewart in 1886. Interestingly this building later served as the office for another architect, Thomas Cecil Howitt, who had gone into private practice after his work on Nottingham’s Council House. Several of his buildings from the 1930s feature on my Deco in the Details tours.

I’m only able to do the Carrington Crawl occasionally so don’t miss out on the next date: Saturday 7 June, 1 pm. Finishing up with a visit to Clawson Lodge, where we can have tea with the AUGB who use it as their Ukrainian Cultural Centre.

Art Deco, Events, Lawrence G Summers, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

May & June from Watson Fothergill Walk

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The return of Deco in the Details and another chance to do The Carrington Crawl

Dates coming up in May & June 2025

There is still some availability for Watson Fothergill Walk on 25 May, 10 am. (It starts early so we can enjoy Nottingham while it is slightly quieter than later on in the day – it’s worth getting up for!)

Deco in the Details

I’m trying out an evening version of Deco in the Details parts 1 & 2 – these tours look for traces of Art Deco in Nottingham’s architecture of the 1920s and 1930s.

Deco in the Details Part 1, Wednesday, 28 May, 6 pm. £20 each includes booking fees.

This is a circular walk from Nottingham’s Council House down to the Broadmarsh area and back. You can do these tours in any order – I hope to stage them again later in the year.

Deco in the Details Part 2, Wednesday, 11 June, 6 pm. £20 each includes booking fees. Date changed to 11 June.

This second part of the walk starts outside Victoria Centre and finishes at Snienton Market (where there is an opportunity to call at The Bath Inn).

Deco in the Details Architecture of the 1920s and 30s.

The Carrington Crawl

Lawrence George Summers, Fothergill’s talented chief assistant architect, was recently commemorated with a new grave marker in the Church Cemetery. 

The young LG Summers and the new grave marker, commissioned by Andrew Paris. Church Cemetery Photo: Lucy Brouwer

On the Carrington Crawl, I tell Summers’ story, talk about Fothergill’s family home and search for the houses they designed in Mapperley Park, Sherwood Rise and Carrington.

Carrington Crawl Saturday 7 June, 1 pm. £20 each including booking fees.

This walk starts at the junction of Mansfield Road and Mapperley Road and ends at the Carrington end of Mansfield Road with a chance to explore Clawson Lodge (now the AUGB Ukrainian Cultural Centre) where you can enjoy a hot drink (for a small donation).

Father’s Day tour

And finally, for this newsletter, a Watson Fothergill Walk for Father’s Day.

There will be a Watson Fothergill Walk finishing up at Fothergill’s gastropub where you can enjoy the special Father’s Day menu. Book in early if you’d like a table after the tour. I’ll endeavour to finish on time but book for 12.15 pm to be on the safe side! A pleasant 2-hour stroll will build up your appetite.

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 15 June, 10 am tickets £20 each including booking fees.

Tickets for all these guided walks are available on EVENTBRITE

Events, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

First dates for 2024 now booking

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Thanks to everyone who joined me for a walk, bought a voucher or listened to a talk this year. Your support really means a lot! Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year…

…Watson Fothergill Walk will be back in 2024.

Join tour guide Lucy Brouwer to explore the buildings of architect Watson Fothergill in Nottingham. Tickets are now on sale for Watson Fothergill Walk on Sunday 4 February 10 am and Sunday 18 February 10 am. Lucy is also available for private bookings.

Tickets for all walks from Eventbrite here

Tickets are £15 each – book early and save on Eventbrite fees. If you have gift vouchers there is now a specific ticket category for you to use.

If you need a last-minute present for someone who you think would like to explore Nottingham –  Watson Fothergill Walk Gift Vouchers are still available. They are valid for 12 months. They can be purchased and sent by email:

Buy Watson Fothergill Walk Gift vouchers

Inside, Research, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

Inside Thurland Street Bank

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Observant Nottinghamians will have noticed some changes taking place in one of the city’s largest Fothergill buildings recently. The sports bar chain Box has moved into the Former Nottingham & Notts Bank (lately All Saints and before that Nat West) on the corner of Pelham Street and Thurland Street.

Picture of how the Thurland Street Nottingham and Notts Bank looked circa 1898 from The Builder (found at archive.org) Building was completed 1882 – “Fothergill Watson” carved beneath the date stone as this predates his 1892 name change.
Thurland Street Bank, November 2023. Note how the chimneys have changed over the years (there is one fancy one left at the back of the building). Photo: Lucy Brouwer


I’ve waited a long time to get inside parts of this building and my ambition to have a look at the stained glass upstairs was finally realised as the bar opened to the public last week. Thanks to the friendly staff for letting me have a look around. The building has been developed with strict rules about how the listed interior can be used, so hopefully the fabric of this fantastic example of Fothergill’s work will survive this regeneration for use as a party venue!


I’ll hopefully get time to do a more thorough post on the history of the building soon but meanwhile here are some photos of the stained glass, which is in a part of the building that is not open to the public.

The oriel window features Chaucer and Shakespeare. The motto: Tolle Lege “Take up and read”. Photo: Lucy Brouwer

Fothergill has form with Chaucer – inside his office, there is a carved quotation:

“The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne, Th’assay so hard, so sharp the conquerynge”. 

The Parliament of Fowls, Geoffrey Chaucer.

See previous blog for a full translation into modern English. 

Fothergill was also fond of a religious quotation “Tolle lege” are the words spoken to St Augustine during his conversion to Christianity…

Chaucer – was one of the authors revered and published by William Morris also an inspiration to Watson Fothergill? Photo: Lucy Brouwer
William Shakespeare – recognisable even from outside when back to front! Photo: Lucy Brouwer
From the outside this window looks like it was once on a staircase, that is long gone like the rest of the interior decoration upstairs, but the quality of the work shines through. Photo: Lucy Brouwer

The female figures on this window represent Art, Science, Agriculture, Commerce, Manufacture and Mining. This chimes with the frieze on the exterior that represents the three major industries of Nottinghamshire in the 1880s – Agriculture, Textiles and Mining. The quotation underneath is:

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. For there is no work nor device for knowledge nor wisdom in the grave wither thou goest. The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong neither yet bread to the wise nor yet riches to men of understanding nor yet favour to men of skill but time and chance happeneth to them all.”

Ecclesiastes Chapter 9 verses 10 & 11, King James Bible Version

I’d love to track down evidence of the artist who designed this stained glass, so if anyone has any leads please get in touch!

A first attempt at video so forgive the portrait mode!

Events, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

Extra June 2023 Watson Fothergill Walk dates

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Join tour guide Lucy Brouwer for some Fothergill-spotting in Nottingham. Tickets are now on sale for Watson Fothergill Walks in June.  In addition to previously announced dates, tickets for some weekday walks are now available.

Learn about the buildings where Fothergill left his mark on Nottingham. Forthcoming dates for Watson Fothergill Walk – a guided tour exploring the life and work of architect Watson Fothergill aka Fothergill Watson – more details on the ticket pages, links:

Sunday June 4, 10 am

Friday 9 June, 2 pm

Wednesday 14 June, 6 pm

Tickets are £15 each – book before 1 June and save almost £2 on Eventbrite fees.

Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

“‘Ning Po’!” A mention on Nottinghamshire Live (The Post)

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I spoke to Lynette Pinchess at The Nottingham Post about one of Nottingham’s most fascinating buildings – Watson Fothergill’s Office on George Street.

In action on George Street. Photo: Lamar Francois

You can find out more about the building and the many others that the architect built on The Watson Fothergill Walk – tickets are now available for walk in March and April 2023 or send a message to make a private booking for your group of 6-20 people.

Events, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

Watson Fothergill Walks are dog-friendly!

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This weekend I took a group and their dogs on the Watson Fothergill Walk… It was very chilly (I don’t do many walks in January and I wear thermals!) but the group and their dogs all enjoyed learning about Nottingham’s unique architecture.

Thanks to Olive, Bob and Barney (and their owners and their friends) for joining me for a tour of Nottingham! Outside Queen’s Chambers. Photo: Lucy Brouwer

There is no extra charge for well-behaved dogs on my walks – and the Watson Fothergill Walk has the added bonus of finishing up at the dog-friendly pub Fothergill’s.

You can book a private tour for 6 or people (with or without canine pals) or join one of my ticketed walks.

The next scheduled date with ticket availability is Sunday 26th March at 10 am, tickets £15 each (book before 1 February and you won’t pay Eventbrite fees) or sign up to the mailing list to get news of dates as they are announced.

Events, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

Another March date by popular demand!

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The walk on 12 March sold out very quickly so I have added another Watson Fothergill Walk on Sunday 26 March, 10 am. Tickets are £15 each and if you buy before 1 February there are no Eventbrite fees to pay.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/watson-fothergill-walk-architecture-of-victorian-nottingham-tickets-510531923727?aff=WFWebsite
Buy tickets for 26 March – £15 each

NEWS FLASH…. I am running a private Watson Fothergill Walk on Monday 16 January at 2 pm – The group have generously offered to let me open this up to anyone who can join us. £15 each – pay cash on the day. Meet outside Visit Nottingham Tourism Office by The Council House at 2 pm – the walk takes approx 2 hours and finishes at Fothergill’s Pub. Email Watsonfothergillwalk@gmail.com to secure a place.