History Guide on the 35 Bus - Experience Nottinghamshire

History Guide
on the 35 Bus
Route
#35
A Route Rich in
Historical Significance
The number 35 is a special
bus route from a history lover’s
perspective. It passes through, or
near, nine of Nottingham’s fifteen
Domesday communities, the site of
a Roman Fort and the world’s first
known railway built in 1603–4 to
carry coal from Strelley to Wollaton.
Nottingham Canal at Wollaton, c. 1955
Canning Circus, c.1895
The route is also rich in housing
of historical significance, from
almshouses and ‘Garden City’
council estates to a gated private
estate. The countryside the 35
passes was once among the
origins of the industrial revolution.
The modern world began here.
The passenger with an active
imagination might just glimpse
the faces of 17th century pupils
walking to school in Bulwell; miners
going home after their shift down
Cinderhill Colliery; Roman soldiers
in Broxtowe. A little further on, early
Puritans on their way to Bilborough’s
parish church; 16th century hewers
in Strelley loading coal into horse
drawn wagons on the railway.
Broxtowe Hall, c.1930s
Old Bilborough village, c. 1933
Climbing up towards Canning
Circus, 18th century travellers
would have passed through two
toll gates and run the risk of being
robbed by highwaymen or chased
by dragoons defending the town.
For most of the 20th century, the
35’s passengers would have been
workers in the factories along the
length of the Derby Road. Smokers
upstairs and, for a while, riding
on trams and trolleybuses. At
night going to a pub or catching
a film at the Savoy Cinema. Now
the faces on the bus belong to
students and nurses, patients and
shoppers, workers and mums
with buggies or pensioners like
me with shopping trollies.
The 35’s downhill dash to
Nottingham skirts the city’s General
Cemetery, where gravestones evoke
endless stories. Listen carefully to
the mobiles on the bus and you will
hear the living telling theirs too.
Robert Howard
www.historybybus.org.uk.
Bulwell to
Moor Road
Strelley House, Bulwell, c.1974
Broxtowe Hall, c.1835
Bulwell (1). Before boarding the
bus at Bulwell Bus Station, be sure
to have a look at Strelley House,
within yards of the Market Place and
dating from 1667. You can also pick
up some provisions on market days:
Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, and
have a look at the (purported) site
of the original Bulwell well inside the
hardware shop near the bus station.
Coleby Road (4). Alight here for
a walk around Broxtowe Country
Park (5), the former site of
Broxtowe Colliery. Today the park
is comprised of 46 hectares of
woodland and open green spaces.
Headstocks (2). Sixty years ago,
there were three working collieries:
Babbington, Broxtowe and
Cinderhill. You will pass Broxtowe
Hall Close (3) off Broxtowe Lane,
where Broxtowe Hall stood until
its demolition in the 1930s. The
subsequent building of Broxtowe
housing estate uncovered
Nottingham’s first Roman Fort.
More about this area can be found
in Garden City, TravelRight’s guide
to Aspley, Broxtowe and Cinderhill
www.travelright.org.uk/aspley
Moor Road (6). Hop off here for
a walk around Bilborough village
(7) on the south side of Strelley
Road. Look at St Martins Church,
then head back over Wigman
Road towards Strelley Village (8).
Follow the Monks Way, a medieval
path, from the Broad Oak pub
up to the church. Take time to
walk around the churchyard,
which is overlooked by the Hall,
which is said to be haunted!
From Strelley Village it’s just a
short walk to Oldmoor Wood
(9), wonderful any time of
the year, but particularly so
during bluebell season.
Wigman Road Top to
Wollaton Park Gates
Strelley Village, c.1910
Wollaton Hall, c.1858
Rejoin the bus at Wigman Road Top
(10) for a panoramic view of the city
as the 35 turns into Bracebridge
Drive. As you pass Bracebridge
Drive Shops (11) there is also
a magnificent view of Wollaton
Hall. Also see TravelRight’s guide
to this area, A New World www.
travelright.org.uk/bilborough
enjoyable walk towards Derby
Road through Martin’s Pond nature
reserve and Wollaton Park and
Deer Park. Wollaton Hall (14) is
one of England’s finest Elizabethan
buildings, now a museum.
Wollaton Vale (12). Just south of
the railway was the Nottingham
Canal. To the west, part of the
old canal has become a nature
reserve and makes for a fascinating
historical walk. The full description
of this walk, In Search of the
Abandoned Nottingham Canal
can be found on my blog www.
parkviews.blogspot.co.uk
Bramcote Lane (13) leads to
Wollaton Dovecote (former home
to 4000 pigeons) and village
and marks the beginning of an
As you leave the South Entrance
of Wollaton Park the bus can be
picked up again at Wollaton Park
Gates (15). Alternatively, cross
the road for a stroll around the
grounds of Nottingham University.
Enjoy its green spaces, walled
and formal gardens and exotic
plants. You can also visit Highfields
Park (16), adjoining University
Park. A ‘Gardens Guide and Tree
Walk’ is available online at www.
travelright.org.uk/gardens
Uni North Entrance to
Lenton Boulevard
Lenton Lodge, c.1905
A Norman font at Lenton St Anthony
Back to the bus, and had you
stayed on board for this section,
you will have seen the Abel Collins
Almshouses (17), tracing their
origins back to 1704. In contrast,
Adams Hill is the site of some of
Nottingham’s most expensive
homes. Behind is a golf course.
To have a look round, alight
at Uni North Entrance (18).
here. After the Priory’s dissolution
in 1538 some its stones were
used to build Wollaton Hall.
Three stops along, alight at Hillside
(19) for a walk around Lenton. Here,
Lenton Lodge (20) once marked
the edge of the Wollaton Hall
Estate. Nottingham Canal passed
under Derby Road (the bridge still
exists) and the River Leen diverts
into the course of the old canal.
Across the road and Hill Side road
takes you along the Leen to the site
of Lenton Priory (21), whose last
Prior was executed for treason. The
graves of 27 nuns can be found
Back along the river and take the
back streets to Lenton Recreation
Ground (22). Opened in 1888, it is
Nottingham’s oldest municipal park.
On to Lenton Boulevard (23),
where the street names, Cycle
Road, Triumph Rd and Dunlop
Avenue remind us of the Raleigh
Cycle factory, one of Nottingham’s
major employers of days gone
by. The old Head Office building,
now better known as the Marcus
Garvey Centre, is still standing,
with its many fine friezes. A website
about Raleigh featuring interviews
with workers can be found at
www.iworkedatraleigh.com
Where Lenton Blvd meets Derby Rd
is the Savoy Cinema (24) opened
in 1935 and featured in the film
Savoy Cinema to
City Angel Row
General Cemetery, c. 1841
Canning Circus, c.1895
‘Saturday Night & Sunday Morning’,
based on Alan Sillitoe’s novel of the
same name about working class
life in Nottingham. Behind are the
Lenton Flats, built in the 1960s
and now being demolished. Join
the bus here for a lift up the hill.
garrisoned in the town. Garrison
Lane, by Park Stores, is a reminder
of this. Adjacent to it, the Park
Estate (28) is well worth walking
around. Just beyond, looking
south, there is a panoramic view
towards the countryside.
Canning Circus (25) is where
seven roads meet. On the north
side is the entrance to the city’s
General Cemetery (26) through
the middle of almshouses
erected by George Canning.
The Cemetery offers a downhill
walk into the City, coming out
across from the main Nottingham
Trent University Campus (27)
and Shakespeare Street.
If you’re walking directly into town
from Canning Circus you’ll find
The Park Tunnel (29), a unique
architectural feature connecting
Derby Rd (by Budgens) to the
Park. Also Nottingham Roman
Catholic Cathedral (30) on your
right (note that the 35 only
stops here when leaving city.)
Alternatively, go southwards,
crossing over Derby Road. This
road was once notorious for
highwaymen and Nottingham
so riotous that dragoons were
The final stop, for the purposes of
this guide, is Nottingham Central
Library (31), Angel Row. Head to the
first floor, Nottingham Local Studies
Library, where librarians with a
wealth of knowledge will be happy
to help you to keep exploring.
l le
er
ci a
Rd
Woo
d
Rd
ia
rL
an
e
CITY CENTRE
RO
AD
lars
op
P
HYSON
GREEN
C
oulevard
Radford B
ARBORETUM
27
RADFORD
Wollaton Rd
25
WOLLATON PARK
a t on
17
Rd
rby
De
y
rb
De
22
St
r
QMC
18
15
Va
le
ch
UNIVERSITY
OF NOTTINGHAM
ey
24
Rd
28
29
30
31
CITY CENTRE
THE PARK
LENTON
St
L e nt
21
a
ne
W
o ll
20
19
by
26
L
BRAMCOTE
De
Rd
C hu
14
MEADOWS
s t o n La n e
13
Br
b
co
am
23
Ab
d
M iddleton Boulevar d
ne
La
R
r
oulevard
Lenton B
WOLLATON
te
le
IN
G
HA
M
e y Lane
Western Boulevard
ho
rc
Ol
d
Trowell Rd
Wo
llato
n Va
TT
The
W
es
ter
nB
ou
lev
ard
e
at
Long Row
Fr
d
an
e
ow
eL
Woodhouse Way
gh R
d
Bilb
oro
u
d
ve
rR
Rd
oro
ug h
G
Gladstone St
BEECHDALE
Rd
Beechdale Rd
ne
entr
y La
an
e
Bilb
Wig m
e
16
Be
Co v
NO
CASTLE
th
St
es
m
Ja
ISE
Aspl
31
on
31 Nottingham Central Library
RO
AD
STR Wilkin
EE son
T
St
Gregory St
13 Bramcote Lane
riv
Parkside
30 Roman Catholic Cathedral
eD
Bi
29 The Park Tunnel
12 Wollaton Vale
ne
WILK
INS
ON
Ang
el R
ow
R
OD
WO
ER
SH
28 Park Estate
La
R
VICTORIA
CENTRE
ay
nW
rio
Ma
27 Trent University Campus
12
NG
HA
M
id
Ma
26 General Cemetery
TT
I
AD
D RO
FOR
Strelley Village
NO
RAD
8
30
lk
wa
25 Canning Circus
29
Ro
pe
R
S
el
nn
Tu
HU
RC
H
T
24 Savoy Cinema
Bilborough Village
e
AD
RO
Be
ec
h
sfield
Man
B
T
HW
AR
KS
Wa
y
use
SO
UT
d
Moor Rd
7
fo
Gains rd Cresce
Cinderhill
Rd
sfor
Ba
N
O
RN
VE
Bells L
an e
St
oln
Linc
Wo
od
ho
ne
7
27
t
La
6
As
ple
y
RO
AD
d
oo
ld
erw o
Sh Arn
&
VAL
LEY
ROAD
H
e
yb
id
Dav
Th
r
No
La ne
KN
ALL
Shak
W
espea
av
re St
er
le
y
S
26
28
d
23 Lenton Boulevard
HU
C
St
25
ll R
22 Lenton Recreation Ground
Broxtowe Country Park
DR
d
Coleby Road
5
LD
NO
L
NO
THE PARK
Rd
ch
4
D
ARBORETUM
AR
Heathfield Rd
RD
oa
21 Lenton Priory
18 University North Entrance
f
er
d
or
on
at
oll
W
20 Lenton Lodge
Broxtowe Hall Close
17 Abel Collins Almshouses
a ne
’s
rtin
Headstocks
3
nt
e
a Av
n ni
ASPLEY
t
Aspley
iv e
BASFORD
C
da
le
g
rid
eb
ac
Br
Rd
2
16 Highfields Park
we L
St M a
10
11
n
gto
ckin
19 Hillside
15 Wollaton Park Gates
to
Brox
3
tha
ox
Br
6 Strelley Rd
Rd
an
gm
Wi
Main Street
Co
Bulwell
14 Wollaton Hall
at
W
Nu
STRELLEY
VILLAGE
1
Bracebridge Drive Shops
d
BROXTOWE
BILBOROUGH
11
Pakr L
ane
Rd
BROXTOWE
COUNTRY PARK
4
Route
10 Wigman Road Top
a ll R
CINDERHILL
5
9
Oldmoor Wood
gn
BELLS LANE
STRELLEY
ESTATE
rn
eD
rive
An
do
ve
rR
d
RO
AD
AR
Ba
8
9
r i ta
KN
AL
L
2
A61
0
½ MILE
Rd
La
am
gh
Key
N
Ray
med
e Dr
ou
HU
C
PHOENIX PARK
0
stow
Pad
Rd
ttin
No
A6 1
#35 Bus Route
Walking or Cycling Route
Walking Route only
Major Road
Minor Road
Motorway
Rail Line
Park / Countryside
Industrial Estate
Toucan Crossing
Monks Way (remains of)
Rd
e
glad
South
City Centre
ns
L ow
Alba
p
St
m
ne
ROAD
NUTHALL
iv e
Dr
od
Wo
KIMBERLEY
1
BULWELL
ll L a
s hi
LL
HUCKNA
r ’s
History Guide
on the #35 Bus
l Rd
B
& estw
Arn oo
old d
Se
Co
m
m
Un
iv
ity
ers
Bo
u le
va
rd
WILFORD
History Guide
on the 35 Bus
Welcome to the history guide to the
#35 bus route. We’re delighted to
bring you this unique insight into the
history of this part of Nottingham.
If you’d like to find out more about
walking or cycling, organised rides
and walks or how to plan your
journey, then visit:
www.travelright.org.uk
or call 0115 883 3732.
We hope you enjoy using this guide.
The 35 bus leaves every ten minutes
for most of the day between Bulwell
Bus Station and the Victoria Centre.
With an all-day ticket for £3.50 you
can get off, have a walk, then hop
back on again further along the
line, or back in the direction you
came from! Pick up a timetable from
your local library or Travel Centre.
You can download this map by
visiting:
www.travelright.org.uk/35bus
Or why not plan a family day out
with an NCT Grouprider ticket?
The Grouprider offers unlimited all
day NCT City bus travel for up to
5 people (minimum 1, maximum 2
adults). Grouprider tickets can be
bought direct from the driver and
cost £9 on weekdays and £4.50
all day during school holidays and
weekends and after 5pm weekdays.
www.nctx.co.uk
Written by Robert Howard and designed
by Chris Matthews on behalf of
TravelRight. TravelRight is being delivered
as part of Nottingham City Council’s
successful Local Sustainable Transport
Fund programme of activities.