Seven facts you may not know about Nottingham

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Nottingham is well known as the home of Robin Hood, but there are many other famous facts that the city has to offer. Here are seven facts you may not know about Nottingham:

How many of these facts about Nottingham do you know?

1. Nottingham has the largest population in the East Midlands: According to data from Demographia, Nottingham has the largest population in the East Midlands with around 694,000. This is closely followed by Sheffield with 640,000. Compared with the populations of other large cities in the UK, Nottingham ranks the ninth highest overall.

2. The bell in the Nottingham Council House in Old Market Square has a name: The bell is called “Little John” and is the fifth heaviest in the UK and has been heard up to seven miles away. Little John is also close to 100 years old, being cast in 1927.

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3. Ibuprofen was first made in Nottingham: Firstly, yes you read that right. Whilst some people will know that the pharmacist chain Boots originated from Nottingham, most people don’t know that Ibuprofen was also first discovered here too. It was discovered by Dr Stewart Adams and Dr John Nicholson in the 1950’s and 1960’s. At BioCity Nottingham there is a plaque commemorating their achievement by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

4. Nottingham’s previous name wasn’t very flattering: Nottingham’s history dates back to the sixth century when it was originally known and Snottingham. Bare in mind this was hundreds of years before Nottingham caste was even built.

5. Nottingham has the most sports facilities per person in Europe: Nottingham was named as England’s official home of sport back in 2015. No wonder both universities perform so well.

6. Traffic lights were first thought of in Nottingham: A Nottingham high school student called John Peake Knight thought of the idea in 1866. His original idea only had red and green for stop and go. Since then his idea has been instrumental to road safety.

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7. Nottingham has the largest network of caves in the UK: There are over 800 caves beneath the streets of Nottingham. Some date back to medieval times, whilst others were used as world war two air raid shelters.

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