Nottingham - Along
The Banks Of The Trent
w/e 08 February
2004
This three mile walk follows a route along both sides
of the River Trent as described in "100 Walks In Nottinghamshire"
compiled by Malcolm Sales, first published in 1997 by The Crowood
Press Ltd. I could have chosen many of the images captured during
the walk to illustrate the points of interest and have included
several "film strips" to complement the six main pictures
I did select.
The walk starts on Main Street Wilford close to the
Wilford Bridge. The bridge was closed to motorised traffic in
1974 and has been rebuilt for pedestrian and cycle traffic only.
Embankments (picture 1.1) on each side of Main Street give us
our first view of the bridge, whilst from the bridge itself (1.2)
the grassy banks of Victoria Embankment can be seen on the northern
bank of the Trent. Wilford Bridge was originally built in 1870
as a toll bridge and was owned and run by the Clifton family
until 1969. A "Table of Tolls" (1.3) with charges ranging
from one old penny for an ass to six pence for a stage coach
can still be seen on the northern side of the bridge. A statue
of the last male member of the Clifton family (main picture)
stands by the bridge. Sir Robert Juckes Clifton, Bart. MP died
at the age of 99 on May 30, 1869.
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The route now follows the northern bank of the river
along the Victoria Embankment (2.1) for about a mile and a half.
This part of the river is popular with anglers, canoeists and
rowers as well as walkers. It is also popular with a large number
of birds (2.2) who are well looked after and fed by the local
populace. Looking away from the river across the road the city
centre can be seen (2.3) and is only a fifteen minute walk away.
In the same direction but only just over the road, are the many
pitches (main picture) where amateur football teams have played
for many years. It was here in the late 1960s and early 1970s
in all weathers that I spent many happy hours with Ilkeston Electric
FC. It was not only the team though that made the headlines as
this newspaper cutting
from January 14th 1969 shows.
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Back on the river side a suspension bridge again,
like Wilford Bridge for pedestrians, crosses the Trent (3.1).
Once passed, the better known Trent Bridge carrying one of the
main arterial routes into the city, comes into view with the
green copper roof of County Hall (3.2) prominent on the opposite
bank. But closer to hand on the left are the Memorial Gardens
(3.3). Designed as a tribute to those who fell in two World Wars
and later in Korea, the gates (main picture) bear the inscription
"Virtue Is Immortal".
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As we approach Trent Bridge passing County Hall on
the right (4.1) a number other familiar landmarks come into view
including the floodlights of the City Ground, home of Nottingham
Forest Football Club and the Rushcliffe Civic Centre (4.2). Just
before passing under the bridge, the wall has been carved (4.3)
with the high water marks of various floods since 1852, the latest
being added after the flood of November 2000. A wooden bridge
was built here over a thousand years ago and replaced in mediaeval
times by a stone bridge and chapel. The present bridge (main
picture) although extensively modified was constructed in 1870.
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It is here that we leave the north side of the river
but not before looking across, with the anglers, into the City
Ground (5.1). Crossing the bridge we can see the floodlights
of Forest's neighbours, Notts County FC and also a sight that
is quite unusual for a city - the sails of a windmill. Although
blending into the sky in this thumbnail (5.2), I can assure you
that Green's Mill at Sneinton is just to the left of the tree
towards the right of the picture. We now cross under the bridge
again (5.3) where there are still parts of the mediaeval bridge,
to commence the return journey via the river bank on the south
side (main picture).
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Once more passing the suspension bridge (6.1) the
footpath leads to an alleyway behind some properties where views
of the river are lost before emerging onto an embankment (main
picture). As the river turns northwards, the path continues to
the west passing a pond well known for its wild life (6.2) before
reaching the Ferry Inn (6.3) back on Main Street at Wilford.
From here it is just a short walk northwards to Wilford Bridge
and our starting point.
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