Grand, Historic, and Never Used: Nottingham's Park Tunnel

(Filmed pre-shutdown obv). Hiding at the end of a residential street in Nottingham is a mysterious old tunnel that doesn't appear ever to have been used. So why is it there? Where does it go? And what happened to it? I went to the East Midlands to find out...

Thank you to Sky Revolutions for kindly letting me use their footage!

Animated fireworks effect:

[kelvinp.coleman]

Welcome to my hometown! One thought: it was my understanding that the 1:12 incline wasn't necessarily a problem for the horses travelling uphill (I don't know, maybe it'd make pulling the carriages a bit more difficult), but rather for the horses making the downhill journey, whose carriages would start rolling freely and then immediately run them over. I'm not sure where I read that, and I could well be wrong... although both might've been factors in the end. Anyway, thanks for stopping by.

[fitnesswithsteve]

Tim saying “hello” lifts my spirits more than you would think!

[archietompkins]

As someone from Nottigham, it's an honour to see the NCP car park by Broadmarsh considered good architecture

[benoitbvg]

Next episode : climbing the highest moutain in Tim's appartment.

[powderedground]

I love how Tim signs off. "and I will see you...soon" it's nice and reassuring. As soon as this lock down lifts, we need you out filming immediately!

[jamesatherton]

My old house is in your video, just 200 yards up the road from here. Before those new houses were built there was a fence and high gate fronting our road, and no lighting in the tunnel. I often used it as a short cut to get home after the pub, walking very slowly through the pitch black tunnel, and then running full pelt to the gate through the wooded area (where the houses are now).
The late Justin Fashanu lived in one of those new houses while he was playing for Nottingham Forest, bless him.

[NathanBriggsWP]

Nice touch with the piano improvising around the theme tune of Maid Marian and Her Merry Men @03:12

[Amber-mlet]

I was living in Notts before I was sent back to my home country over seas due to the You Know What. This both brought joy to my heart and a tear to my eye! I miss Notts so bad! Thank you for making this video!!

[LeanneModenPoet]

Tim: calls the poshest bit of Nottingham "a housing estate". Lol.

[Undertaker]

Finally! This video will serve perfectly as the main source for my history PhD!

[mrbishop]

Loving the Maid Marian and Her Merry Men theme near the beginning.

[starlittardis]

Your jokes are fantastic and groan-worthy at the same time, I frickin' love this channel.
Again, thanks for the accessibility info for disabled folks. It's noticed, and appreciated, and reminds us that we're noticed and appreciated too.

[milliequick]

I found this tunnel by mistake after somehow never noticing it in decades of living in Notts. How interesting to hear the origin! I swear this city has more secrets than most. Thanks for the video

[TheZapan]

You'd think the city council would be smart enough to pave the tunnel with the lovely cobblestones you see at 4:27 but no, let's put the ugliest aggregate, cinderblocks and steel platform we can manage to cram in this historical landmark. Oh, and don't forget to put a plastic bin in the way of the picturesque arch, we sure don't want tourists to miss it!

[grumpygreyhound]

This is so bizarre that this should pop up in my search.

I am from Nottingham and what is strange is that I actually recognise you from Nottingham, Tim! Although I knew the person you looked like in the 1980's who used to visit my parents' cafe, The Gingham Kitchen, on Lincoln Street. If it is you then you don't seem to have aged.

I hope it is you. Definitely very similar to the decent chap called Tim, I used to know.

[ayansharma]

And BTW, your humour is very creative.

[Buckloss]

Stumbled across you by chance! Glad I did. Great subject. Great entertainment! Thanks

[ddemaine]

I like the "ey up mi duck" at the beginning, and generally acknowledging the existence of the East Midlands. For those outside region, 'there be dragons'. Great video, it's a pity the Derby Road entrance doesn't match The Park Estate and Ropewalk entrances!

Factoid 1: "Duck" in this context, is a corruption of the Old English "ducas", meaning duke. A term of respect, turned term of affection (influenced by "hen" or "chick", perhaps). "Ey up" is an Old Norse greeting, translates something like "heads up".

Factoid 2: The exact 'slap-bang centre' of England by the way, is a field near Fenny Drayton in Leicester; if you were to put England on a pin, that's where would balance perfectly. If you wanted to do that... well Ordnance Survey did, albeit figuratively.

[j.j.]

Nottingham is an amazing place with lots of historical heritage. One of my favorite places is a pub on Maid Marion way called Ye olde Salutation inn and apart from being one of the best live music venues in Nothingham, it has a network of underground caves that are themselves a venue for poetry, drumming, singing and part of a historical walk. No trip to Nothingham would be complete without a visit.

[AverytheCubanAmerican]

A grand old tunnel that ends...in a car park. By the way I love the jokes in this, definitely gave me a good laugh. Like 2:39. And I'm sure Donald and Daisy Duck would love Nottingham