Nottingham was founded by the [[Celts]], before the Roman invasion of the 1st century AD, who knew it as Tigguo Cobauc, meaning 'Place of Cavy Dwellings'. This name is derived from the cave houses which the local inhabitants cut into the soft sandsone rocks and cliffs in the city. An Anglo Saxon city was built around where the Church of St Mary stands, on a low cliff in the Lace Market area of the city. Part of Danish controlled East [[Mercia]] after the treaty of Wedmore, it grew in importance as a Danish ([[viking]]) stronghold during the 9th Century, and was known as Snotengaham, possibly named after a Norse leader called Snot. After the [[Norman]] Conquest of England in 1066, [[William the Conquerer]] had an imposing fortress, Nottingham Castle, built on top of a neighbouring cliff top and for a while, an English town and a [[French]] town grew. It is during this period of history that the legends of [[Robin Hood]] are set, focusing on the repression of the Anglo-Danish inhabitants of the Old City by the Norman nobility in the new French City. Nottingham Castle became one of Englands most important Royal fortresses, but was largely destroyed after the [[English Civil War]], by supporters of the [[Parliament]]. A new castle was constructed on the site in the 18th Century by the Duke of Portland, which was destroyed by [[Luddite]] rioters. The remains of this building now house the Nottingham City art gallery.
Nottingham grew rapidly during the industrial revolution and became one of the worlds most important [[Lace]] manufacturing centres. Other important industries included [[Coal Mining]], and the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and bicycles. Nottingham was bombed during the second world war, though many of it's historic qurters quarters have survived intact, the focus of air raids having been the industrial areas.
==Modern Nottingham==