Our History Underfoot

14/06/2026

Searching for the River Nottingham Buried Beneath Its Streets!
The River Leen played a vital role in Nottingham's history, yet much of its original course has disappeared beneath modern roads, buildings and development.

In this video, I walk the lost route of the River Leen from Lenton, near the Queen's Medical Centre, following its historic course through Nottingham towards the River Trent. Using old maps, surviving landscape clues and local history, we uncover where the river once flowed and explore how centuries of development transformed one of Nottingham's most important waterways.

Join me as we trace Nottingham's buried river and discover a hidden piece of the city's past.

If you enjoy forgotten history, abandoned railways, lost waterways and hidden landscapes, please consider subscribing for more explorations.

13/06/2026

The Lost Course of the River Leen
You may have walked down this path and below this railway bridge without ever realising....
This was the course of the River Leen for many decades... That is until the 1880s when it was diverted to the right of this bridge and directly into the Nottingham Canal due to the construction of Castle Boulevard. The location of the bridge is circled in the old map.
There is a video on this subject in the comments below 👇

12/06/2026

You wouldn't know it but Nottingham once had the River Leen flowing right up to and beyond the castle. Now it's course is hidden by development - roads, pavements and culverts. But there are several reminders of the River Leen still around if you know where to look....

The full video is available now in the comments below 👇

Nottinghamshire Live

12/06/2026

An image of Nottingham that is often misunderstood...

This fascinating photograph is frequently shared online as showing the River Leen flowing beneath Nottingham Castle.

While the River Leen was indeed once diverted to run along the base of the Castle Rock, the large body of water visible in this photograph is actually part of the Nottingham Canal system, specifically a canal basin or wharf area associated with the Nottingham Canal.

On the additional attached map, imagine the photographer is at the red " X " looking towards the castle.

The original course of the River Leen lay between the canal basin and the Castle Rock itself, much closer to the cliff face and considerably narrower than the waterway seen here.

The confusion is understandable. By the time many photographs of this area were taken, the canal and river occupied the same corridor beneath the castle, making it easy to assume that the larger waterway was the Leen.

I have made a YouTube video of this very subject.

What makes the image even more interesting is that it captures a landscape that has now completely disappeared. The canal basin, wharves, cottages and industrial activity beneath the Castle Rock have all vanished beneath later development, leaving little trace of this once-busy waterside scene.

It's a remarkable glimpse into a forgotten corner of Nottingham and a reminder that the waterways beneath the castle were far more complex than they first appear.

Had you always thought this was the River Leen, or did you know it was part of the Nottingham Canal?

11/06/2026

How about a Brand New Video where there is so much to unpack you'll need double the snacks!

Join me as I follow the route of the abandoned course of the River Leen on the outskirts of Nottingham at and into the City & beyond to the River Trent.

Nottinghamshire Live fans

The River Leen played a vital role in Nottingham's history, yet muc...

11/06/2026

There is a New Video coming later this evening....
Tracing the lost course of the River Leen on the outskirts of Nottingham.
Be sure to tune in later this evening on my Our History Underfoot YouTube Channel

11/06/2026

Llandderfel Railway Tunnel - North Wales
The tunnel is only about 76 yards (69 metres) long, making it quite small by railway-tunnel standards.
It lies roughly midway between the former Bala area and the old Llandderfel station site & was abandoned by 1965.
My video on this tunnel is available in the comments
fans

10/06/2026

Stanley is enjoying his first visit to the Hucknall Airfield Runway for the very first time 🐕❤️

09/06/2026

My latest video takes a look at a short loop of railway line that once connected two very busy railway lines in Wellingborough....
You can find the link here - https://youtu.be/zJujR4ppOTI
Have you walked this line before?

09/06/2026

Early doors today to walk along what was once the course of the River Leen - Nottingham.
This is Castle Boulevard