Lenton Times

The Magazine of Lenton Local History Society

Trent Building

This picture postcard carries a caption stating it is an aerial view of the Nottingham University.  What this does not make clear is that the photograph was taken on the day of the official opening by King George V in 1928 - hence the assembled crowds and convoys of motor vehicles.  An article featuring the official opening can be found in Lenton Times No.17.

This photograph was taken from a picture postcard posted in September 1936.  The caption that accompanied it read 'Highfields University, Nottingham'.  It was not yet a University in its own right  and so a more accurate caption would have been 'University College, Nottingham'.

Original film of the official opening is available from the British Pathe  website.  You can view thumbnail stills taken from the actual newsreel and download a silent, thumbnail size version of the actual film free of charge by clicking here.

Cut-Through Lane

Cut-Through Lane used to run from the end of Spring Close over to Beeston Lane. The only portion of the original footpath still extant is the section which lies beside the perimeter fence to the grounds of Lenton House starting from its junction with Beeston Lane up to the top of the hill.  This particular picture postcard shows the section looking towards Spring Close which effectively disappeared following the reconstruction of the campus landscape which took place in the 1950s.

These three coloured images of Cut-Through Lane are all taken from 'Clumber' picture postcards produced by Albert Hindley in the early part of the twentieth century.  This particular post card was posted in Beeston on 7 July 1907 and sent to a Miss Brown, The New Inn, Market Place, Wisbech and signed by 'mother' the writer goes on to state 'We come thro' this walk on our way to Mrs Hewitt's.  It is very nice in the daytime but rather dreary at night'.

Unlike the other two images the photographer appears to have left his bicycle out of the shot this time.  Each of the three shots appears to have been taken on much the same stretch of Cut-Through Lane although clearly at different times of year, with different people posing for their photograph.

A portion of Cut-Through Lane as it looked in 1922.  Taken at the Spring Close end looking westward.  The end of the stretch of stone walling shown on the left of the previous set of photographs is just visible in the middle distance of this shot.

Hugh Stewart Hall

The original part of Hugh Stewart Hall started life as 'Lenton Hall' built for John Wright in the early years of the nineteenth century.  This view of Lenton Hall was taken c.1925.

Another view of Lenton Hall from the other side of the building also taken c.1925.

An undated picture postcard showing Hugh Stewart Hall probably taken in the 1930s.

Another undated view of Hugh Stewart Hall.  Judging from the extent of the creeper covering the original building it was taken at a slightly more later date than the previous photograph.

Probably taken in the 1960s this view of Hugh Stewart Hall shows the creeper has now covered the whole of the exterior of the buildings shown in this photograph.

Lenton Hall

This building now incorporated into the Lenton Hall complex is 'Lenton Hurst' built in 1898-99 as the new residence of William Goodacre Player, son of John Player, founder of John Player & Sons, the cigarette manufacturers.

Another building in the Lenton Hall complex is 'Redcourt' built for John Lambert in 1884.  Lambert was a partner in the Nottingham firm of W.J. & T. Lambert, bleachers, dyers and lace dressers.