The Park Tunnel

About

The Park Tunnel was built in 1855 to allow horsedrawn carriages access to The Park Estate from Derby Road in Nottingham.

This prestigious area behind Nottingham Castle was once a private hunting park for the nobility of the castle. In the mid 19th century, The Fifth Duke of Newcastle retained architect Thomas Chambers Hine to design and build the Park Tunnel as the main entrance to the Park, and to develop the area as a residential area in central Nottingham for the wealthier members of society. Along with designing a number of iconic Nottingham buildings, T.C.Hine was also made responsible for the later repair of Nottingham Castle and its conversion into a museum.

Fun Fact: The Duke of Newcastle's original requirement was for a tunnel with a maximum gradient of 1 in 14; the tunnel actually has a gradient of 1 in 12. Considered too great for horsedrawn carriages, this defeated the object of its construction.

The tunnel is still in use, providing pedestrian access from Derby Road, Upper College Street and The Ropewalk to the Park, but remains a hidden gem in the city centre.