Tag: Fothergill Watson

Events, Fothergill Buildings Outside Nottingham

Inside Newark’s Fothergill, Hine Hike & Berni Inns

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I went to a Heritage Open Day at the weekend and realised a long-held ambition to see inside the former Nottingham & Notts Bank building in Newark. This is a brilliant example of reuse and of the idiosyncrasies of Fothergill’s style.

The building, completed in 1887, is made up of a large Italian Gothic-style banking hall with polychrome brick walls and large windows, plus a tower (reduced in height in 1957), and the Manager’s House with oriel windows now making up the School of Musical Instrument Crafts (or Violin Making School as it’s known).

Going inside… (Photos: Lucy Brouwer)

The interior has a particularly fine example of Fothergill’s timber banisters, stained, leaded glass and sturdy medieval-inspired doors. Thanks to Chris for showing us round and sharing his joinery expertise!

I learned a lot about how Fothergill’s favoured barrel vaults are not, in this case, structural (it’s all for show) and how it was likely that the woodwork was constructed off-site and installed later. The fireplaces were in some cases dummies, with gas heaters later replaced by radiators. The effect was solid medievalism with a dash of Arts & Crafts, but overall Very Fothergill!

Very much a working building, the college has been here since the 1970s, so I had to use my imagination to picture how it would have been laid out as a bank. There were loads of little signs of Fothergill’s motifs, materials and details. It was a real treat to have a good look around. The college has been under threat recently, so here’s hoping they get to stay here and look after the building for years to come. Heritage Open Days continues until 20 September, with lots to see and do around Notts.

Berni Inns

My next event is a talk about the history of Nottingham’s Berni Inns and their buildings. This once-popular restaurant chain had several branches in Nottingham and surrounding areas, with many of them opening in the 1960s and 1970s. I’ve researched the history of the buildings, the food and the adverts for these Nottingham Berni Inns – Join me for an entertaining look into how we used to “Disco Dine with steak and wine for under £1”.

The talk takes place at The Vat & Fiddle, Queensbridge Road (near Nottingham Rail Station) on Wednesday, 23 September, prompt start 7 pm. (doors open 6.30pm and the pub is open until 9 pm). Tickets are £10 here or at the bar.

Tour dates

There will be a couple of scheduled architecture tours in October:

Watson Fothergill Walk: Architecture of Victorian Nottingham, Sunday 18 October, 10 am

This tour looks at the life and city-centre buildings of Watson Fothergill, Nottingham’s most eccentric architect. Featuring Queen’s Chambers, Former Nottingham & Notts Bank, Fothergill’s Office and more.

The Hine Hike: Buildings of Thomas Chamber Hine, Sunday 25 October, 2 pm

An introduction to the prolific 19th-century architect who quite literally shaped the streets of Nottingham. Featuring a look over the Park Tunnel, Hine’s Home & Office and the Lace Market.

I have very limited availability for private group walks in October and November. Prices start at £100 for up to 4 people – drop me a line to find out more.

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Events

Architecture Walks & Talks in September & October

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September and October are getting busy, but read on for all the events I’ve got coming up. 

Look up and see Nottingham differently! Photo: Lucy Brouwer

Firstly, I will be giving a short introductory talk about Watson Fothergill the architect and his buildings at The People’s Hall, Heathcoat Street, Nottingham on Sunday 13 September at 11.30 am as part of the events for Heritage Open Days. My talk is aimed at people who haven’t tried my tours yet, or fancy a refresher. There will be other speakers on heritage topics over the weekend and a chance to look around the building. Heritage Open Days events are free (some require advance booking).

On Sunday 13 September, 2 pm, I’m doing Watson Fothergill Walk and there are still a few tickets left. I don’t do afternoons often, so this is your chance to join me if you usually like a lie-in.

There is also a newly added date for October: 

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 18 October, 10 am.

Join me to discover my 5 star rated architecture tour and see Nottingham’s buildings differently! Tickets are £20 each plus booking fee.

Talks in the Pub

Once again, I will be giving some of my previously sold out history talks at The Vat & Fiddle, the welcoming Art Deco pub run by Castle Rock brewery, a short walk from Nottingham Railway Station.

These buildings have something in common – they were all once home to a Berni Inn! Photos: Lucy Brouwer

On Wednesday 23 September, 7 pm my talk will be

Nottingham’s Berni Inns & Their Buildings

A look at the historic buildings that were once home to the popular restaurant chain Berni Inn. If you have memories of prawn cocktails, salad bars and first dates at The Chateau, then this is for you!

On Monday 19 October, 7 pm I’ll be repeating my talk on

Nottingham’s Art Deco Pubs

Nottingham and surrounding areas have several Art Deco style pubs; uncover the local architects who designed many of these buildings in the 1920s and 1930s, explore the concept of the Improved Pub, and examine trends in pub design during the inter-war years.

Talk tickets are £10 each from Eventbrite or over the bar at The Vat & Fiddle.

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Events

August Tour dates

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Unfortunately, I had to cancel the last couple of tours – because there was an “Orange Heat Warning”. But there’s one more in July and a couple of dates in August… read on!

Have you done the tour already? If you enjoyed it, please tell your friends! There’s a date coming up for the Watson Fothergill Walk on Thursday 23 July, 6 pm.

Nottingham Tour dates in August:

Hine Hike: Buildings of Thomas Chambers Hine, Wednesday, 19 August, 6 pm Discover the prolific architect who helped shape the Nottingham streets we know today.

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday, 23 August, 10 am click for tickets and info. My original tour exploring the life and work of one man with two names and many great buildings, Nottingham most flamboyant architect.

I’m also available for bookings for any of my tours during the week, so if you’ve got a group or a few friends who’d like to explore Nottingham, please send me a message to arrange a tour. More info here.

Recommendation

When I was in London a little while ago, I had the pleasure of taking part in one of Mike The London Ambler’s tours – looking at the stations and Railway Lands behind Kings Cross and St Pancras. I really recommend Mike’s informative and entertaining architecture tours if you’re in the capital. More info: The London Ambler.

Events, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

Fothergill’s 185 Birthday and July Tour Dates

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Marking the anniversary of the architect’s birth with a special event.

Hello, thanks to everyone who has joined me for an event so far this year and welcome to new subscribers. Keep reading for the latest tour dates. 

2026 marks the 185th anniversary of Watson Fothergill’s birth on 12 July 1841, so I decided to mark the occasion with a special event on Sunday 12 July 2026.

I’ll be presenting an illustrated talk that looks at some of Fothergill’s buildings beyond those I’ve explored on the Watson Fothergill Walk. I will look at the stories behind the buildings built outside the centre of Nottingham. There will also be a chance to see pictures of some of the interiors of his buildings that I have been lucky enough to visit over the last few years.

Buildings to be featured include Woodborough Road Baptist Church, the Simons & Pickard Paper Warehouse, Hucknall Coffee Tavern and possibly more if there is time. Interiors are likely to include Fothergill’s George Street Office, Thurland Street Bank and Queen’s Chambers. 

The talk will take place in the upstairs function room at The Castle Pub, which itself is a Fothergill building. I hope you can join me!

The room will be open at 6 pm with the talk starting at 7 pm.

Tickets are £10 each. 

Insides & Outskirts: Watson Fothergill 185th Birthday Talk, The Castle Pub, Castle Road, Nottingham. Sunday, 12 July, 7 pm.

The next Watson Fothergill Walk on Sunday 7 June, 10 am has just 4 tickets remaining (at time of writing), if you’d like to join me, there is still time to book your place.

Mortimer House, The Castle Pub, Nottingham (Architect Fothergill Watson 1882-83), Drone photo: Chris Swallow (used with thanks).

There will be some evening tours to take advantage of lighter nights with a Watson Fothergill Walk on Thursday, 25 June, 6 pm and Thursday, 23 July, 6 pm. There will also be a tour on Sunday, 5 July, 10 am. Tickets are £20 each.

Watson Fothergill Walk, Thursday, 25 June, 6 pm (cancelled due to extreme heat warning)

Watson Fothergill Walk, Thursday, 23 July, 6 pm

If you’re looking for a Father’s Day present, then my gift vouchers might be just the thing – they’re available here, or you can book a private tour for the Father figures in your life! (At time of writing I still have availability on 21 June, Father’s Day ). 

I also have weekday availability for tours in Nottingham if anyone would like to put together their own group (6 or more people). Any of my architecture tours are available for private groups. (Terms and conditions apply). Please drop me a line for availability and prices. The Hine Hike will be back towards the end of the summer. Thanks for reading all the way to the end!

I hope you can join me to see Nottingham differently. 

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Events, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

June 2026 Watson Fothergill Walk Dates

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A quick update to tell you what’s coming up in June 2026…

A couple of dates for Watson Fothergill Walk, looking at Nottingham’s Victorian Architecture. It’s the perfect time to explore the city.

High Angle on Mortimer House (The Castle Pub and Fothergills) Photo taken on a recent tour by Chris Swallow (used with thanks).

There are just a few tickets left for Sunday 24 May, 2 pm. Book now for a rare afternoon tour. 

The next Watson Fothergill Walks will be:

Sunday 7 June, 10 am

Thursday 25 June , 6 pm

Click through for all information and tickets. 

Ticketed walks are £20 each. 

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

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Events, Podcast

Monstrosities Mon Amour: The Victoria Centre & Carrington Crawl

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I was a guest on my favourite architecture podcast + May tour availability.

Keep reading for exciting news of my podcast appearance… First of all, a shout-out for my upcoming tours. This is basically my job now, and I really appreciate the support and wonderful feedback that I’ve received from so many of you. Hopefully, the weather is going to start behaving itself so, it’s the perfect time to join me and discover even more of Nottingham’s architecture.

Some of the buildings you can learn more about on The Carrington Crawl. Photos: Lucy Brouwer.

The Carrington Crawl, Saturday, 9 May, 1 pm

More Watson Fothergill, this time his domestic architecture and the work of his Chief Assistant, L.G. Summers, plus a few surprises. Starting at Mapperley Road, taking in Sherwood Rise and ending in Carrington, where we can explore inside the Ukrainian Cultural Centre at Clawson Lodge.

Not forgetting my original Nottingham city centre architecture tour:

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 24 May, 2 pm

If you’ve already done it, tell your friends. If not, what are you waiting for? A rare afternoon outing for this tour of buildings by Victorian architect Watson Fothergill (aka Fothergill Watson). Recently called Nottingham’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh by a visiting London tour guide…(I’d argue that you could call him Nottingham’s Gaudi!). Join me to find out what all the fuss is about!

Monstrosities Mon Amour!

If you’re interested in architecture, like me, you may have read John Grindrod’s books – particularly Concretopia (which will change your preconceptions about Modern buildings) and IconIcon, which looks at landmark buildings in contemporary Britain.

Author John Gringrod on my tour of Nottingham’s architecture. Photo: Lucy Brouwer

Recently, John came to Nottingham’s Five Leaves Books to talk about his latest book, Tales from the Suburbs, on LGBTQ+ people’s experience of suburbia. Monstrosities Mon Amour is John’s podcast where he invites writers, tour guides and experts to talk about the architecture that other people love to hate. After taking John on a personalised tour of Nottingham, he asked me to contribute and here’s the result!

Monstrosities Mon Amour

It was great fun to do, and I hope you enjoy listening to it.

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Events

April & May events & Fothergill’s Irish tresure

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Spring into more tours of Nottingham’s wonderful architecture!

Here’s a round-up of forthcoming events with ticket availability, and read on for an insight into an object from Watson Fothergill’s art collection.

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday, 12 April, 10 am. Just 4 tickets left for this date.

The Hine Hike: The Buildings of Thomas Chambers Hine, Sunday, 19 April, 2 pm. Good availability at the moment. Join me for a survey of the work of Nottingham’s other big-name Victorian architect. 

Adams Lace Warehouse, Lace Market, Nottingham, architect: Thomas Chambers Hine. (Photo: Lucy Brouwer)

The talk in the pub at The Abdication, Nottingham’s Berni Inns and Their Buildings, is now just about sold out! If you’ve missed tickets, my talks in pubs will hopefully be back later in the year.

New Dates:

I’ll be giving my illustrated talk on Watson Fothergill in Mansfield at Mansfield Library on Tuesday, 12 May, 2 pm – you can purchase tickets at the Library or via Eventbrite at the special Inspire Libraries price of £3.50 each. 

Walking Tours:

A new weekday slot for both parts of Nottingham: Deco in the Details. Discover the architecture of the 1920s and 1930s, how it was inspired by Art Deco style and changes to Nottingham in the inter-war period. 

Nottingham Deco in the Details Part 1, Wednesday, 29 April, 11 am

Council House circular route, looking at Friar Lane, Viyella and Broadmarsh.

Nottingham Deco in the Details Part 2, Wednesday, 6 May, 11 am

YMCA to Sneinton Market via Lower Parliament Street and Hockley.

The Carrington Crawl, my tour looking at the domestic architecture of Watson Fothergill and his chief assistant Lawrence George Summers, will be running again on Saturday, 9 May, 1 pm. Join me to explore Mapperley Park, Sherwood Rise and Carrington, just on the outskirts of Nottingham City Centre, with a chance to see the house from the garden, and stay for refreshments, at Clawson Lodge, the Nottingham Ukrainian Cultural Centre. 

The Carrington Crawl, Saturday, 9 May, 1 pm

An afternoon fixture for the main city centre Watson Fothergill Walk will be on Sunday 24 May, 2 pm.

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 24 May, 2 pm

All walking tours are £20 per person.

Watson Fothergill’s Irish Treasure.

For St Patrick’s Day earlier in the week, I looked a little deeper into Watson Fothergill’s connection to Ireland and an object that was once in his collection. On the Carrington Crawl, when we visit the site of Fothergill’s home, 7 Mapperley Road, I talk about his great collection of art, glassware, pottery and other objet d’art. 

The interior of the Dublin Exhibition Palace, The Builder, 1865 (via Wikimedia)

Fothergill visited Ireland in 1865, to visit the Dublin International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures, a world’s fair that had almost 1 million visitors. He became friends with members of the Russell family, who appear to have had a connection to the Fothergill family, as they later made a gift to Watson Fothergill of Dr Fothergill’s seal. Dr John Fothergill was a Quaker scientist born in 1712 at Carr End, Yorkshire, great uncle to Watson Fothergill’s Mother, Mary Ann Watson (nee Fothergill). 

He visited the Russells again in 1891 (possibly at their home on Sandford Terrace, Ranelagh.) On this, his first visit to Dublin for 25 years, he purchased a replica of the Ardagh Chalice. The Ardagh Chalice was one of the finest examples of Celtic art ever found. It was part of the Ardagh Hoard, 8th and 9th century metal work, which was discovered in 1868 by two boys digging in a potato field in the village of Ardagh, County Limerick, Ireland. 

The original Ardagh Chalice, held by the National Museum of Ireland. (Photo: Wikimedia)

The original is now on display in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin, the replica of the chalice, which was owned by Watson Fothergill, is now held by the Hunt Museum, Limerick. 

Replicas of the chalice were made by leading goldsmith and jeweller Edmond Johnson of Grafton Street, who had cleaned the original 8th century chalice when it was found. It’s likely that Fothergill’s chalice was sold after his death in 1928 and purchased by the Hunts, whose collection is held at the Hunt Museum.

Edmond Johnson Jewellers, Grafton Street, Dublin, circa 1894. Via Wikimedia

A similar replica Ardagh Chalice featured on Antiques Roadshow (click for video clip) not so long ago! 

More insights into Fothergill’s career as an architect, as well as his art collecting habits, on my walking tours looking at his life and buildings.

If you’d like a private tour or talk for your group – please send me a message via my website. 

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Events, talk, TC Hine, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

April walk dates and more

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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 

The Vat and Fiddle on Tuesday 24 March, 7 pm

Vat & Fiddle 24 March 7 pm

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.

WALKING TOURS

The March walks are now fully booked.

So here are some dates for April:

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday, 12 April, 10 am

The Hine Hike: The Buildings of Thomas Chambers Hine, Sunday, 19 April, 2 pm

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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Art Deco, Research, Travels

A Beeston Bimble*

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Plus Nottingham architecture events now booking.

My next Vat & Fiddle talk, on Watson Fothergill in the Park Estate, is now sold out. However, if you’d like to book me to give a talk to your group or club, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The first few tours of the year are filling up nicely – Deco in the Details Part 1 on 15 February is now full, but there is space left on Deco in the Details Part 2 on 29 March, and on the Watson Fothergill Walk on 22 February and 22 March. There will be more tours throughout the year, with The Carrington Crawl and Hine Hike also returning, so keep an eye on these emails for future dates.

Photo: Lamar Francois

The weather has not been particularly conducive for tours this month, so I took a day off for a wander around Beeston. (This is not a guided tour, just something I do!)

Beeston’s history is well-documented, and the Beeston Civic Society have been doing great work. If you live there or visit, you’ll know that there are loads of cafes and bars, interesting shops and charity shops. A few buildings caught my eye…

Beeston Library, Photo: Lucy Brouwer.

As a former Library Assistant and full-time bookworm, I made a beeline for Beeston Library. The building on Foster Avenue was designed by the County Architect E. W. Roberts in 1938. He was also responsible for West Bridgford Library. The builders of the Library, local firm Hofton & Son, also built Beeston Town Hall, which is now used as a church, and sits opposite. It opened in 1938 and was designed by the architects Evans, Clark & Wollatt with H.H. Goodall. It has a solid Neo-Georgian look with Art Deco details.

Former Town Hall, Beeston. Photo: Lucy Brouwer.

After a very nice coffee at Greenhood, itself in a former Birds the Confectioners shop on the High Road, our daunder** took us past the former Primitive Methodist Church on Wollaton Road. This 1882 building was one of many Victorian-era Methodist churches by Nottingham architect Richard Charles Sutton.

Former Primitive Methodist Church, Beeston. Photo: Lucy Brouwer.

R.C. Sutton was a very prolific architect in his day; his buildings can be found all over Nottingham and outlying areas. I’m hoping to explore his work and his connections to Bromley House Library, where he had his office, further this year.

Back on the High Road, the former NatWest Bank stands out. It was originally built for the Nottingham and Notts bank, 1905-08, and was likely designed by the Coalville architect Thomas Ignatius McCarthy. The Pevsner guide describes it as “abstracted Neo-Tudor.” It ceased to be a bank in 2023 and is now a kitchen showroom.

Former Nottingham & Notts/ NatWest Bank, Beeston. Photo: Lucy Brouwer.

Further down the High Road, the familiar Home Brewery lettering on a white building caught my eye. The Pudding Pantry cafe was previously The Durham Ox pub.

A very detailed history of the pub can be found on David Hallam’s Beeston History website. The present building was built in 1925, and was one of many pubs rebuilt by the Nottingham architect Albert Edgar Eberlin, as mentioned in my Art Deco Pubs talk. Eberlin also worked on The Fox, The Royal Children, The Beechdale and many more pub buildings around Nottingham.

Another Deco-era building I noticed, the recently closed Poundland, was in fact a former Woolworths.

This was Woolworth’s store 578 and was completed in 1934 by their in-house architect, Harold Winbourne. I noticed the parapet and margin glazing in the metal-framed windows. Head over to the Woolies Buildings website for archive pictures of this one in its former glory and to Building Our Past for shop architecture historian Kathryn A. Morrison’s in-depth look at Woolworths and their architects.

Does your neighbourhood have any buildings that catch your eye? Look up and see what you can see next time you’re out. Or if you have a building you’d like me to research – get in touch.

* Bimble; English, informal: a leisurely walk or journey.
** Daunder; Scots: to stroll, saunter or wander aimlessly.

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Events

Back for 2026 with more Art Deco Architecture and Watson Fothergill Walks

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See Nottingham differently with guided architecture walking tours

Here are some of my highlights from 2025:

  • Trying out a Public Art photo walk with photographer Lamar Francois.
  • Delving deeper into the Thomas Chambers Hine archive with The University of Nottingham.
  • At long last, visiting Long Eaton for a look at the buildings!
  • Selling out my Art Deco Pubs talk four times in a row!
Thanks to Lamar Francois, Dan Simpkin, Louise Hunter & Lucy Simons for the photos.

Into the mix in 2026

Both my talks (Art Deco Pubs and Watson Fothergill in The Park Estate) at The Vat & Fiddle are now sold out, but I’m looking at doing some more later in the year.

Tickets are now available for my architecture tours Deco in the Details Parts 1 & 2 and Watson Fothergill Walk. I hope you can join me to explore the architecture of Nottingham city centre. My original tour looks at the work of Victorian architect Watson Fothergill. (Did I mention it has 5 star reviews on TripAdvisor?)

Deco in the Details is in two parts, each looking at a different side of Nottingham, exploring the history of the buildings of the 1920s & 1930s and looking at what makes the Art Deco style. (Do one, do both, it doesn’t matter in which order!)

The first tour dates of the year are as follows, with more info and ticket details via these links:

Deco in the Details Part 1, Sunday 15 February, 11 am

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 22 February, 10 am

Watson Fothergill Walk, Sunday 22 March, 10 am

Deco in the Details Part 2, Sunday 29 March 11 am 

All tickets £20 each (plus relevant booking fees). There will be more tours coming up, including my other walks The Hine Hike, The Carrington Crawl, and hopefully some new ideas too.

If you have a gift voucher, please use the GIFT VOUCHERS ONLY section at checkout. Gift vouchers must be used one at a time – if you have any queries or would like to book directly, please drop me a message via my website and I can make the voucher booking for you. 

I am also available for private tours. Any of my walks can be done for private groups and I’m often available on weekdays. Please send me a message to organise a tour for your group of up to 20 people. 

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Events, talk, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

Watson Fothergill in The Park Estate

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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.

This talk was originally researched and put together for the Park Residents Association, and I will be presenting an updated version at The Vat & Fiddle on Tuesday 17 February, doors 7.30 pm, (doors 7 pm). Tickets are £10 each.

Watson Fothergill in The Park Estate tickets.

Here’s more info:

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

With many thanks to Dan Simpkin for the use of his fantastic photos. More of these on The Park Estate Instagram account. I’m also on Instagram – WatsonFothergillWalk – join me, if that’s your thing!

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. 

The Hine Hike, Sunday, 14 December, 11 am

Hine Hike Tickets

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. 

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Fothergill Bank Long Eaton
Fothergill Buildings Outside Nottingham

Fothergill in Long Eaton

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I finally made it to Long Eaton to see the building Fothergill designed for Samuel Smith’s Bank. Just over the border into Derbyshire, Long Eaton is a half-hour bus ride away from the centre of Nottingham (I caught the Sky Link airport bus and met up with my friend Louise on the way).

The Halifax (former Samuel Smith & Co, Bank), 24 Market Place, Long Eaton. Architect: Fothergill Watson, 1889. (Photo: Louise Hunter).

Halifax are closing this branch in September 2025, so we wanted to visit while it was still possible to go inside. However, the interior was fairly modern with the only evidence of the original detail being the coffered wooden ceiling. I didn’t take a photo, as by then the counter assistants were wondering if I was casing the joint.

In March 1889, Fothergill Watson (pre-name change) submitted plans, commissioned by Messrs Samuel Smith & Co, Bankers, but these do not survive in archives. There are several other Fothergill buildings linked to this association with Smiths Bank, including alterations to a house on Cator Lane, Chilwell, for Mr F.C. Smith (see blogs passim), Hucknall Institute & Coffee Tavern (memorial stone laid by Mrs F. C. Smith), and a branch in Bullwell (now demolished).

The Grade II Listed bank makes good use of its location, with both side elevations projecting into the street; there is a porch on the south corner with a typical polished granite column.

Smith’s Bank, Long Eaton. South Elevation. (Photo: Lucy Brouwer)

The building uses Fothergill’s favoured red brick with blue brick bands, stone dressing the terracotta dressings. Elaborately moulded chimneys and a slate roof are also typical.

The front has five moulded Caernarvon arched windows with polished granite columns with foliage capitals. (Caernarvon arch is a term often used by Historic England and refers to an arch comprising a wide keystone resting on two corbels shaped to fit the keystone.)

Caernarvon arched window. (Photo: Lucy Brouwer)

Below the windows is a continuous moulded sill band and above a moulded terracotta frieze (now mostly visible thanks to a smaller Halifax signboard).

Close up of the terracotta moulding. (Photo: Lucy Brouwer)

The porch has semi-circular headed stone arches supported by a large polished granite column with foliage capital. There is wrought ironwork in the tympanums and grid iron work below (it looks like originally there would have been another grid gate to close off the entrance).

Porch with wrought ironwork. (Photo: Lucy Brouwer)

The date stone overlaps 1889 and is rather discreetly placed in the stone arch of the window.

Date stone in window arch. (Photo: Lucy Brouwer)

On the north corner, a canted oriel mullioned and transomed window with terracotta panels to the base and coloured brick corbels below.

Canted Oriel window. (Photo: Lucy Brouwer)

On the north side, facing into the church yard, a grand stair window with a stepped base and below a large moulded arch with a door and window.

North side door. (Photo: Lucy Brouwer)

While we were exploring Long Eaton, I was pleasantly surprised to discover there were several other buildings of note. More coming up…

If you’d like to learn more about the architect Watson Fothergill, why is swapped his names around, how to spot his buildings, and much more, then join me for The Watson Fothergill Walk, an architectural walking tour of Nottingham City Centre. Next date 7 September 2025.