The Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard

About

Sitting at the foot of the Rock, Brewhouse Yard is one of Nottingham Castle’s hidden gems, a fascinating historical site with a rich history of its own.

Brewhouse Yard and its 17th Century cottages tell the stories of some of the people who lived here over four hundred years. These are times of economic ups and downs, urban expansion and increasingly rapid industrial change. Visitors are invited to explore the homes of four families, each with a connection to Nottingham’s history of textiles – but the history of this area stretches back much further.

Brewhouse Yard has been part of Nottingham’s changing story and important cloth trades for hundreds of years; affecting the lives of many of the city’s different communities.

Generations of textile makers have lived and worked here from the Wildboare dyers to the laceworker Websters.

Brewhouse Yard began as cave dwellings and these still exist today. From medieval maltings and tanneries to World War Two air raid shelters, you can discover the tales and stories buried deep in the sandstone.

The Brewhouse Yard caves are all at ground level and designed to be as accessible as possible, however can still be uneven underfoot due to the cave’s geology.