The document summarizes the history of Nottingham Castle and its surrounding area from the 14th century to the 19th century in England. It describes how King Edward III captured the castle through a secret tunnel in 1330. It mentions the cotton industry depression from 1809-1849 that led to the Luddite Riots of 1811 and the burning of Nottingham Castle during the Reform Riots of 1831. Finally, it discusses the passing of the Great Reform Act of 1832 that expanded voting rights amid political divides and public pressure.

1. On this slide show I have given examples of visual influences which I
have used to inform my design interpretation.

2. Underneath the castle are many man made
caves and tunnels, this particular tunnel is
called Mortimer’s Hole.
On the night on the 19th of October 1330
King Edward III the rightful King of
England entered the castle though this
secret tunnel, where he and his men
captured the Queen Isabella and her lover
Roger Mortimer who had usurping the
young King and were ruling England in
his place. Mortimer was taken to London
for execution.
Source: First hand Photography from the tour of the
Castle Caves.
16/05/12

3. Nottingham Castle as depicted on John Speed's
map of Nottingham, 1615.
Source :
http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/Brown1896/notti
ngham2.htm
When designing this play I would use
the castle grounds like an island, letting
the audience explore all aspects with
performance all around. I am
particularly interested with the burnt
rock from the fire in 1831, leaving a lava
effect imbedded in the rock. I think this
give an illusion of the island being
dark and mysterious like its characters
as shown in the image above.

4. In 1809 the cotton hosiery trade which supported over half the population of
Nottingham entered a period of over 40 years depression. Wage cuts and steep rises in the
price of food gave rise to theLuddite Riots in 1811. Political unrest culminated in the Reform
Riots of 1831 and the burning of Nottingham Castle.
Source: http://www.nottsheritagegateway.org.uk/themes/police.htm

5. Great Reform Act,
1832
‘The passing of the Act was a mixture of political
circumstance and popular pressure. Divisions in
the anti-reform Tory Party allowed the veteran
Whig reformer, Lord Grey, to become Prime
Minister in 1830. However, his Reform Bill was
rejected by the Tory-dominated House of Lords.
It was the agitation from extra-parliamentary
radicals in the country at large that finally
convinced a sceptical king and hostile Lords
that reform was necessary. Reproduced here is
the manuscript text of the Act itself, together
with the schedule of boroughs to be
disenfranchised.’
Source:
http://www.nationalarchives.
gov.uk/pathways/citizenship
/struggle_democracy/docs/re
form_act.htm

6. This painting is one of the most important in British History, currently hanging in The National Portrait
Gallery, Hayter has captured The Representation of the People Act 1832 also known as The Great Reform Act 1832, in The
Commons House of Parliament. On the right-hand side are the Duke of Wellington and the Conservative Party and on the
left hand side the Labour party and is shown to be led by the Earl of Grey.
Source: National Portrait Gallery