Nottinghamshire has a rich heritage of historic villages and diverse landscapes. Arthur Mee, in his book on Nottinghamshire in the King’s England series, wrote that “scores of villages must be seen by those who know how captivating the county can be.”

This course offers an introduction to local village landscapes, using maps, documents, photographs and evidence from the landscape itself to piece together how villages evolved — and how their character has been shaped by agriculture, industry, religion, architectural styles and the country gentry.

Along the way, you’ll uncover surprising stories, including links between Ralph Cromwell, Lord Treasurer of England, and the village of Lambley; how children were transported from London in the 18th century to work in a worsted mill in Norton Cuckney; and how coal mining transformed once-rural communities.