NOTTINGHAM, which gives name to the county. It is a handsome town, and a county of itself by charter. The name is derived from the Saxon word Snottengham, which signifies caves, from the caves and apartments anciently dug in the rocks on which the town stands. These, being soft, easily yield to the spade and pick-
axe; whence the townsmen have excellent cellars for the vast quantities of malt liquors made here, and sent, as well as their malt, to most parts of England. The situation of the town is very pleasant, having meadows on one hand, and hills of a gentle, easy ascent, on the other. It is well supplied with fuel, both wood and coal, from the forest; and with fish by the Trent, which runs about a mile to the south of it, and has been made navigable for barges: so that they receive by it not only great quantities of cheese from Warwickshire and Staffordshire; but all their heavy goods from the Humber, and even from Hull. It is of great antiquity; and had anciently a very strong castle, where is now a fine seat belonging to the duke of Newcastle. It is noted for its horse-races on a fine course on the north side of the town. The corporation is governed by a mayor, recorder, six aldermen, two coroners, two sheriffs, two chamberlains, and twenty-four common-council men, eighteen of the senior-council, and six of the junior, a bell-bearer, and two pinders, one for the fields, and the other for the meadows. The town being within the jurisdiction of the forest, the former of these pinders is town-ward, and attends the forest courts. It has three neat churches, the chief of which is St Mary's; and an alm-house, endowed with 100 l. a-year, for twelve poor people; with a noble town-house, surrounded with piazzas. A considerable trade is carried on in glass and earthen-wares, and frame-lockings, besides the malt, and malt-liquors, mentioned above. Marshal Tallard, when a prisoner in England, was confined to this town and county. In the duke of Newcastle's park there is a ledge of rocks hewn into a church, houses, chambers, dove-houses, &c. The altar of the church is natural rock, and between that and the castle there is an hermitage of the like workmanship. Upon the side of a hill there is a very extraordinary sort of a house, where you enter at the garret, and ascend to the cellar, which is at the top of the house. Here is a noted hospital founded by John Plumtree, Esq; in the reign of Richard II. for thirteen poor old widows. There are four handsome bridges over the Trent and Lind. To keep these in repair, and other uses, the corporation has good estates. This town and Winchelsea both give title of earl to the noble family of Finch. Here David, king of Scots, when a prisoner in England, resided; and under-ground in a vault, called Mortimer's hole, because Roger Mortimer, earl of March, is said to have absconded in it, when he was taken and hanged by order of Edward III.