I also have some weekday availability, if you’d like to make a group booking (minimum 6 people, maximum 20 people). Drop me a line to find out more.
Did anyone else make it to Bonnington Gallery at NTU for John Dean, A Semester in Nottingham 1976? Some fantastic photos, including this one… I worked out where it was taken and realised that the door had been swapped for two windows. Fothergill’s Thurland St Bank is slowly revealing itself!
I’ve decided to pause the Deco in the Details tours until later in the year. These walks are still available for group bookings, so if you have a few folks who would like a tour – let me know!
Do you follow me on Instagram? For more Fothergill and Architecture-related, goings on you can find me @watsonfothergillwalk
A few people have asked if I can move my Deco in the Details tours to the weekend, so I’ve given my diary a shake-up and moved the two dates (previously on Wednesdays) to Sunday slots in May.
This tour looks for traces of Art Deco style in the architecture of the 1920s and 1930s. Starting with the Council House and taking in Friar Lane, Viyella, Broadmarsh and Listergate to end back at the other side of the Council House (well, it is very large!).
There was so much change in Nottingham in the 1920s and 1930s that this tour needs two parts. You can do either one or both, in any order. This one starts with the YMCA and winds down Parliament Street to Hockley and Sneinton Market.
There’s lots to discover on both these tours – you might be surprised how much. Expect my usual entertaining blend of architecture-spotting, history and anecdotes.
Other upcoming events
There are still some spaces on The Hine Hike, Sunday 19 April, 2 pm. If you’ve not done this tour yet, then please join me to explore the massive contribution the architect Thomas Chambers Hine made to the way modern Nottingham is laid out.
A rare chance to join me for theCarrington Crawl. This tour looks at houses designed by Watson Fothergill and his chief architectural assistant, Lawrence George Summers. I don’t do this one very often, so don’t miss out on a chance to find out more about Fothergill’s domestic set-up, his art collection, the house he built for himself and the buildings that helped to shape Mapperley Park, Sherwood Rise and Carrington. This walk starts at the junction of Mansfield Road and Mapperley Road and finishes at Clawson Lodge (the Ukrainian Cultural Centre) in Carrington, where you can go inside, look around, enjoy a drink and ask me questions!
All these tours can be booked for independent groups -I’m often available during the week. Please drop me a line to set up a tour for you and your friends, or for social clubs, gatherings, alternative works-dos etc.
Architecture in the Pub talks
Thank you for the fabulous response to these talks. The Berni Inns talk at the Abdication is now full, but I will hopefully be repeating the series and possibly adding new topics at the Vat & Fiddle in the Autumn. There will be some historical highlights on the Vat & Fiddle’s social media over the coming weeks.
New walk dates, researching talks and return of The Hine Hike
Thanks to everyone who braved the weather for Deco in the Details Part 1 last weekend, and to everyone who came down to The Vat & Fiddle for my Watson Fothergill in the Park Estate talk. Your continued interest in Nottingham’s buildings and my own unique and “entertaining” take on them is much appreciated! Read to the end for new walking tour dates for April 2026.
Poster at The Vat & Fiddle, February 2026
I’m deep into the research for my new Nottingham’s Berni Inns and their Buildings talk. Sometimes you just have to follow the idea and see where it leads… Expect tales of old buildings given new life, familiar menus, retro adverts and maybe a little misty-eyed nostalgia for nights out gone by!
There are still a few tickets remaining for the date at
There will be another date for the Berni Inns talk at The Abdication Micropub, Daybrook, on Tuesday 21 April, 7 pm – email the pub for tickets or drop in to pay cash. All talk tickets are £10 each.
The Abdication, Coronation Buildings, Mansfield Road, Daybrook.
All walk tickets are £20 each. Click the links for full information.
A reminder: well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on the walks.
I’m now taking bookings for private tours with availability on weekdays into the summer. Please drop me a line to organise a walk for your group of 6 or more (maximum group size: 20 people). Versions of all my tours are available for private bookings. If you’d like a personal tour for a smaller group these can be arranged to suit your requirements. Talks are also available for groups. Email me via my website.
Keep looking up! Fothergill’s Office on George Street, Nottingham. Photo: Lucy Brouwer
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Book the newly renovated function room in a Fothergill building
Thanks to everyone who came to the Introducing TC Hine event at the University of Nottingham. It was great to see some familiar faces and to explore the City as Lab project.
Some pages from the digitisation of TC Hine’s scrapbook. (Photo: Lucy Brouwer)
To continue the TC Hine theme, I’m offering my Hine Hike tour on Sunday 14 December, 11 am. This tour surveys the Nottingham city centre buildings of the Victorian architect Thomas Chambers Hine, from The Park Tunnel to The Lace Market and gives an introduction to his life and work.
The upstairs function room of The Castle has been renovated and is ready for pre-Christmas bookings. I took a look around inside.
(Photos of the interior courtesy of Eversosensible/ The Castle Pub).
Upstairs in The Archer’s Attic (so called because there’s a great view of the Robin Hood statue), there is a bar, two dining areas with plenty of room for parties or group events, and even space for your own DJ. There’s info on capacity and more photos on the pub’s website. It’s free to hire the room, and they have some pre-Christmas availability so drop them a line if you’re interested in booking.
Mortimer House, which is also home to Fothergill’s Pub & Bistro, was built in 1882-83, and represents the Old English elements of Fothergill’s architectural style. Built for Clement Tate, a business man and surveyor, who was based in Nottingham at the time, the building was originally six houses with shops at either end. The Old Castle Inn, as it was then known, has been a public house since 1980, with a brief stint as The Fletcher and Firkin in the 1990s (look for the old Firkin doormat!) It had previously been a tea room, an antique shop and the office of a bankruptcy accountant! These days, it is a listed building and the final stop on my Watson Fothergill Walk guided tour.
Mortimer House, now The Castle and Fothergill’s (Photo: Lucy Brouwer)
The Watson Fothergill Walk will be back in 2026, so make sure you are subscribed to receive dates as they are announced. Gift Vouchers for my tours are available from Gift Up, or you can book a private walk for small groups by contacting me via my website.
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An illustrated talk on houses by Fothergill and some of the people who lived in them
People often ask me about the houses in Nottingham’s Park Estate. So far, I have not presented a tour of The Park, mainly because it is so large, walking there involves climbing several steep hills, and there aren’t quite as many houses by architect Watson Fothergill as people might imagine …
… However, I have put together an illustrated talk on houses in the Estate that Fothergill worked on, as well as stories of some of the characters who lived in them.
Join Lucy Brouwer, the creator of Watson Fothergill Walk, for a look at Fothergill’s houses in Nottingham’s Park Estate. Learn about the original owners and some of the residents of these distinctive Victorian buildings.
Nottingham’s Park Estate was home to some of Nottingham’s most illustrious Victorians and their families. The properties created by the architect Watson Fothergill represent some of the most outstanding houses in the development. Lucy, who is known for her popular Watson Fothergill Walk tour, has researched the histories of these houses and traced some of their original residents. Hear stories of some of Nottingham’s prominent Suffragists, Timber Merchants, Members of Parliament, and Scientists of the late Victorian era.
This is an illustrated talk with a duration of approximately 1 hour. Doors to the Golding’s Room open at 7 pm; the talk starts at 7:30 pm. The Vat & Fiddle will be open until 9 pm. Tickets £10 each
Another architect, Thomas Chambers Hine, was responsible for the layout and overall look of The Park Estate. I will be introducing Hine and his work for University of Nottingham Manuscripts and Special Collections on Thursday, 4 December. Details in the previous post.
To accompany this event, I am staging a Hine Hike walking tour on Sunday, 14 December, at 11 am. This tour offers an introduction to Thomas Chambers Hine and his buildings in Nottingham city centre. Duration approx. 2 hours. Tickets £20 each.
Thank you for all the interest in my Nottingham Art Deco Pubs talk. I am looking at staging it again, so make sure you’re subscribed to this mailing list for news of all future dates.
Thanks for reading Watson Fothergill Walk – Lucy Brouwer! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Thanks to everyone who came down to The Vat & Fiddle for my Nottingham Art Deco Pubs talk. I’ve heard that a few of you have been visiting these fabulous buildings – here’s a recap if you’d like to find some Art Deco gems in the Nottingham area: A Guide to Nottingham Art Deco Pubs
Screenshot
There are still a few tickets remaining for Nottingham: Deco in the Details for Art Deco Society UK on 13 September, 2 pm. This is a version of Deco in the Details Part 2. It’s also open to non-members and the Deco-curious! We might even finish off with a look inside The Bath Inn.
Join me for my original tour looking at Nottingham’s Victorian Architecture by its most flamboyant architect. Last chances this year, so don’t put it off book today!
See what folks are saying about Watson Fothergill Walk in my TripAdvisor reviews – It’s 5-star rated doncha know!
This tour looks at some of the houses designed by Watson Fothergill, architect, and his chief assistant Lawrence George Summers in Mapperley Park, Sherwood Rise and Carrington. There’s lots more about their lives and work too. Plus a chance to take a closer look at Clawson Lodge, a large house on Mansfield Road, now home to the Nottingham Ukrainian Cultural Centre.
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!)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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:
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”.
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!
