Medieval stairs almost lost to time!! What could be inside the cave?!

Join Chill as he meets with Janine Tanner, a local historian who gives us an exclusive look at 'Long Stairs' in Nottingham. Almost lost to time, this medieval marvel has been resurrected from obscurity thanks to Janine's determination and the collective effort of a dedicated group of volunteers.
In this video, Janine takes us on a tour of Long Stairs, revealing the remarkable transformation from tangled overgrowth to an exciting glimpse into the city's past. Beyond the stairs we discuss the cave, its entrance sealed off since the 1870s, holding within it mysteries waiting to be revealed.
Janine's vision extends beyond mere restoration; she envisions Long Stairs open to the public, providing access to Nottingham's rich history while ensuring the privacy of neighbouring residents. With your support, we can turn this dream into reality, unlocking the secrets of the cave and preserving a vital piece of Nottingham's heritage for generations to come.
UPDATE due to the success of this video Janine has started her own KZbin channel @TimeTeamTanner make sure you go follow her and see what she has been up to.
Be a part of history's restoration and make a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Nottingham by donating to the Long Stairs Restoration Project now: www.justgiving.com/crowdfundi...
If you can't afford to donate but want to support, all ad revenue from this video will be donated to the project, so sharing is a free way you can support this important part of Nottingham's history!
00:00 Intro to Long Stairs
01:50 What's inside the cave?
04:50 A chat with Janine
06:50 Getting the keys to Long Stairs
08:45 Restoring the stairs
11:35 What's next?
14:40 Special thanks

[@deadpanbarry5442]

Never thought I'd watch an upload about stairs and be interested.... The joys of the Internet.... Well done to all.😊👍👌

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

That lady has been visibly affected by her love of her city and hard work over many years to keep all those plates spinning. A great fountain of information, she's a star.

[@next0845]

Open up the cave and put a coffee shop in there. All profits could go to the restoration of the lower steps

[@amc5966]

What an incredible woman Janine is. Every town needs someone with such drive and commitment to local history. Chapeau Janine.

[@MrStephen777]

commitment to destroying the natural environment . great give her a medal for services agisnst wildlife..

[@cmdfarsight]

Well done to Janine and folk like her for getting this looking lovely. If it was up to the developers and the council (and rumours of money going between the two if you know what I mean) we'd lose all these old features and buildings.

[@toi_techno]

Well done to Janine and her crew

[@sureshot8399]

Kudos to those who spent their time and energy restoring the stairs. It may not be Westminster Abbey, but little innocuous parts of British history are worth preserving too as once they are gone we'll miss them.

[@thatcouncilestatekid1832]

Lovely to see people passionate about local history 👍🏻

[@davetdowell]

Don't open the cave, they didn't build three layers of bricks for nothing... the Dragon will escape.

[@chillintheuk]

🤣🤣 This is why I would like to be there for the opening lol who knows what is hidden back there!!

[@LordGertz]

So not true. They will find the body.

[@paulcrawley5687]

who says theres 3 layers of brick ? your talking about 1870

[@davetdowell]

@@paulcrawley5687 You have to watch the video for that, it's said in there.

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

There's the skeleton of a cobbler sitting at his bench with hammer in hand.

[@rythemzlatin]

• 3-layers of brick is a very common method , done for the sake of structural integrity , not for "super security" of something valuable. • Do any old photos show the actual location of the cobbler's doorway. A preliminary inspection @ window height there could be made with a camera(s) on a longpole ( the small size of such an opening being less risky for a collapse if the area inside has experienced shifting over time ) .

[@Annie-ex3ge]

It's a shame her book wasn't published. Admirable dedication!

[@teptime]

So happy to see these people taking part in the preservation of their rich local history. Much love from the States.

[@chillintheuk]

Thanks @teptime 😊 I hope i can visit the US someday 🙏

[@trixieleigh7912]

It must be cool living in such a long inhabited place 😮 I'll prolly never make it across the big pond, but I so love this ❤

[@nickolasvanduyne3442]

Her dedication to preservation is admirable but it’s sad that without her unexpected efforts they would’ve eroded into obscurity.

[@neilbain8736]

I had many happy years in Notts exploring the caves and the pubs. There's a good few pubs have caves, which were ideal for brewing and storing beer. I was fascinated by the old Drury Hill which was a steeply inclined medieval street that was cruelly flattened in the 60's and whose remains is now under the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. There's a lot of railway history too. I used to cycle up the River Leen to work in Bulwell, which is a lot prettier than the end in the video But I had no idea about Long Stairs. I would have actively sought them out if I'd known.

[@lat1419]

Many memories of my mis-spent youth in caves in pubs in Nottingham!

[@brianjackson4960]

Drill a small hole in the bricks and put a camera in

[@janinetanner2922]

Amazing stuff Chris!! Off to share the video to my groups now! 😀

[@johncook3817]

Try drilling a hole first and putting a camera through first. Cheaper than demolishing the wall to start with!

[@robertphillips6296]

The Cave was either a Hideout for Robinhood and his Merrymen or a storage room for Doctor Who's Tardis.

[@TheSilmarillian]

Or an abandoned infinite improbability star drive maybe, then again probably not me thinks.

[@neilthehermit4655]

Janine and the volunteers are legends. Long may you reign ! Edit : Restoring a Stairway to Heaven ! ( sorry I couldn't resist ).

[@Sandra-A]

Wow! The world needs more people like Janine. Full cudos to her 👏

[@chillintheuk]

Agreed, she just launched her youtube channel thanks to comments like this. Time Team Tanner 🥰

[@coreyshaw3701]

A triple bricked up wall that closed off a cave in a spot that's been there for at least 500 years known as Merlins Cave??? Yep, gotta get in there pronto.

[@jerryoliver5181]

Thank you Janine! You found and saved a bit of History for future generations. Well done you!

[@chillintheuk]

Glad you enjoyed the video Jerry! I'm glad I could make this video with Janine to highlight the great work she is doing and the positive comments has encouraged her to start her own youtube channel @timeteamtanner. Thanks for your support

[@nobbybrown8056]

Does it not stand to reason these are the stairs for the public and historically significant so therefore should be opened up and used again? I am disabled and can never travel this route but I shed a metaphorical tear for it's lack of use and human hubbub!

[@ReapersBaby]

Yes they may possibly be opened up in the future, but for now they're not safe enough for the public to use which is why they spoke of restoration costs.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

@@ReapersBaby And also a wall to assure the privacy of local residents

[@jackieclark7460]

They can't be fully restored and reopened as there has been houses built at the bottom so the access is not available

[@warslayer4286]

We need an update please

[@vickywitton1008]

How wonderful! I would love to see what is behind the wall!

[@wingwalker007]

We need an update video when it’s opened

[@WAR-22]

Wow fantastic video first off. But well done Janine and all the volunteers. 👍👊

[@kpar4943]

Open it!!! Where's Time Team, tell them to get Geophys on it!❤

[@terryhayward7905]

I am sure that you could drill a small hole in the mortar and push a camera through to see what is behind the bricks.

[@orchy86]

Would be very cheap too

[@MrPlankinton]

The Cask of Amontillado, A short story by Edgar Allan Poe, immediately comes to mind

[@diannehardwick950]

In the graffiti can you see the big boot on the left? I bet it’s a sign for the cobblers shop, probably painted as well. Great project.

[@user-tj6hm5kl7h]

Awesome woman well done ✅❤❤

[@JenniferVallee-he2ry]

Open the cave. Preserve what can be and then open a tiny coffeehouse. Volunteer’s to run it and profits go to the foundation. For every 3$ cup of coffee, half of it goes to the foundation type of thing. Very interesting place.

[@paulbristow8485]

I cant wait to see inside the cave !!

[@alisonjackson-bass495]

I would have liked more history and context. When were the stairs built? Information on boundaries, who lived there, access etc. Images on old maps would have been good.

[@TomZak.]

This is really interesting! I wonder what they were hiding in that cave. Great video Chill and the production quality on this video is amazing! Keep up the good work.

[@squeakieve]

It would be a better idea to just drill a hole into the brick and use a camera to see what's behind the wall befor any demolition is done.

[@krism.9363]

From the title of the video I thought we were going to see the cave opened up & what’s inside. The title is very disappointing & click bait. I’m glad this person preserved this history & would have watched without being annoyed that I was baited into watching a misleading video. Stop using click bait!

[@chillintheuk]

I can only apologise, this wasn't my intention. Since people have pointed this out I did try to make it less clickbaity and will try to avoid this in the future. Appreciate the feedback!

[@sarahguthrie9615]

Have yous got plans to open it up ?

[@_PJW_]

It would be nice if it could be restored to the full extend, and opened to the public. It's streets and narrows like this that characterize cities and towns. Unless cared for they will disappear quietly forever.

[@jackieclark7460]

They can't be fully restored and reopened as there is now housing built at the bottom so it would come down into someone's backyard

[@_PJW_]

@@jackieclark7460 What a pity. And what oversight and amateurism on part of the city.

[@sarahguthrie9615]

I hope they open it up and see what they find and we get to see it all to

[@chillintheuk]

me too!!

[@I.Live4oldcars.prospecting]

This is fantastic. I just stumbled across this video. Im in Australia and i love history. My mother is from London, she came to Australia in 1966 , im sure she will love this channel.

[@chillintheuk]

aww that is so sweet, thanks for commenting. I hope I can make more videos like this!

[@I.Live4oldcars.prospecting]

@@chillintheuk you're very welcome.

[@psychonaut689]

Well done Janine! It's a shame it won't be open to the public.

[@quinnabun1173]

Absolutely wonderful lady!❤❤❤❤

[@gaz1tinsley]

You should Drill a hole through the 3 walls and use an *Endoscope* So you can view whats inside that cave before you get k'novking any walls down ;)

[@McCabesMemorials]

Looks like they’ve taken a brick out of the wall

[@gaz1tinsley]

@@McCabesMemorials But aparently there is 3 wall layers

[@toni5431]

If the caves are ever opened up and made habitable I think a lovely tiny "rooftop" terrace cafe would be perfect there. Tasteful iron railings to block off the drop and on top of the walls to make it safe. Small tables on the terrace outside would make it a lovely spot to sit and drink a cuppa and relax in the summer. If it was run on a non profit basis anything over running and supply costs could be used for maintenance and other restoration works.

[@chillintheuk]

that is a great idea and would be perfect for that space and like you suggested it could pay for any future work/maintenance!! ❤

[@ajcole5967]

Just had a look on google, shame they cannot restore them all the way down.

[@TC-qd1zw]

Newcastle’s long stairs are still open and used every day.

[@fridayfriday3948]

That was such an interesting video! Janine Tanner is awesome for taking on this kind of important work, with such dedication. I have lived in Canada for the last 45 years, and really appreciate the history of the regular people who lived before us. All too often they are forgotten, only the wealthy men are remembered. Many thank yous for everyone who remember them, because they are the the backbone of real history.

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

There's the skeleton of a cobbler sitting at his bench with hammer in hand behind the bricks.

[@user-hz8uc9iu8c]

truly very incredible! appreciate you, thank you!

[@johnlaforte700]

Fantastic restoration. Looking forward to updates. 👍👍

[@MrEvilWasp]

I think it's unfortunate that it's closed to the public. Even if the public were only allowed with supervision once a fortnight etc and for a donation it would be fine. What's the point of restoring something like this if it's only available to a very select few to enjoy.

[@chillintheuk]

I agree. I think Janine would consider taking people down in exchange for a donation. The more people to help keep the place free of debris and overgrowth the better 👌

[@paulcrawley5687]

you know why the councillors all said yes so there Not responsible for it and they ain’t got to do what there meant to do , we call that passing the buck

[@deedaw9246]

Donation boxes in the local shops? Bake sales & yard sales. Maybe even donation boxes in nearby towns. Get on the local news periodically to give updates? See about getting the book you wrote for the other town printed. Maybe someone can do photos of then and now and put up a temporary museum. Im sure if you ask, you will get loads of inexpensive ways to get donations. Its too bad it cant go all the way back down. I really didnt understand why it couldnt. Good luck.

[@LynneHarrison-gg5ix]

I love the brick work in the background.

[@HighWealder]

Should be fully opened

[@Russellbristow]

Wonderful item! Well presented and produced. I’ve worked in the media for many years and this in my view is a very professional piece to camera. Congratulations, and carry on with the good work.

[@chillintheuk]

Thank you for your comment Russell! It really means a lot to me hearing people enjoyed this video, but even more coming from someone who has worked in the media space. More will be coming soon, I have been taken down by a cough atm so hopefully when that clears up I will make more content like this. Thanks again! 🥰

[@lepterfirefall]

I think of the wall at the side...how many people have brushed down that wall over the centuries

[@thekarmafarmer608]

Fantastic story. Great job.

[@jonhelmer8591]

Great video!

[@chrissmith-no3bo]

Let the dragon out. Its beautiful. Just think of how many of our families that immigranted to america and other countries might have stood there at one time

[@artistjoh]

I suspect the reason for the triple brick wall is structural, and that cave collapse was the concern, endangering the buildings above it. There is no other good reason for the extra expenditure involved in building a triple brick wall other than engineering necessity to enable safely building the substantial building above it. Any breach of the wall needs to take this into consideration.

[@Chooseyourownadventure42]

Nah, dragon. 😂😂😂

[@marqsee7948]

that's your adventure. Some of us make it to the end of the book. @@Chooseyourownadventure42

[@TheSilmarillian]

That be the first thing I thought off.

[@TheSilmarillian]

@@Chooseyourownadventure42 or trolls of the nasty variety captured from under their bridge in the dead of night and sealed up behind the triple brick , just maybe but I can settle for dragons., seated atop a two story pile of gold ,scattered with glittering stones of the diamond variety and jewelry collected over the centuries. And still the dragon slumbers with always one eye open against marauders seeking said dragons treasure. But I digress have been told I do so , hello from down under.

[@heartland96a]

She should find either a new publisher or go self published, so she could use the monies to either be income for her or towards the project

[@KyrstOak]

I agree.

[@gerryegan4872]

Really fascinating good luck with the cave reveal.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

15:20 Let the poor woman speak. Even if you're showering her with round after round of thanks, don't mean you should cut in to her just starting the answer to your question.

[@TheSilmarillian]

True indeed.

[@davidrobinson6353]

Well done Janine nice one girl .👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧👍👍👍👍👍

[@ShazzaUK70]

How long will it be before they are allowed to remove the bricks I wonder? What an amazing story. Good luck with it all. :-)

[@marqsee7948]

when they can afford to.

[@MrYfrank14]

I'm in the US and I love videos like this because we do not have anything this old in the US. Another channel I watch shows where a river goes underground and you see the walls change from rock to brick to concrete as building materials changed over the years. I look at old brick bridges 100 feet tall and think somebody had to build that one brick at a time.

[@chillintheuk]

oh wow that sounds amazing, what channel is that? I watch a lot of American history and exploring channels so I might already follow lol

[@MrYfrank14]

@chillintheuk - the channel is "martin zero". And I think you may have misunderstood. martin zero shows places in the UK. Mostly around Manchester. In my post, I meant I watched your video and martin zero's channel because we do not have anything that old in the US. I like seeing how building construction has changed and how long some structures have lasted.

[@derrickguffey4775]

I am obsessed with history and the preservation of sites like this. It's a real shame how much history in the United States has been destroyed in the name of progress and modernity. I'd love to go to Britain and see some of these magnificent almost magical places. But financially it would be near impossible and considering Britain is no longer British I don't see that happening. More the pity.

[@chillintheuk]

Agreed and flipped! I would love to go to the US to see all the history there. There's a channel based around Salt Lake, called Ghost Town Living and its a ghost town called Cerro Gordo and I would absolutely love to visit there and see the old west

[@tricitymorte1]

​@@chillintheuk yes, let's swap places! 😂 I'll go to Britain, you come to the US, compare historical notes. Really, US history is either dinosaurs, or there's just a ton of stuff crammed into a short span of time. The American Southwest has lots Native American remnants - cave and cliff dwellings that are extremely fragile. The ghost towns are more modern, but still fascinating, even eerie. It's a good time! I hope you get to make that journey soon!

[@chillintheuk]

@@tricitymorte1 I mentioned this to Janine during our live stream on Saturday and what she said was very interesting, the stairs featured in this video are potentially older than America itself 😲 I hope so too, hopefully if my channel keeps doing well I'll be able to make a video about it too 🙏 My issue is where in the US to go, I want to visit every state but that would take months lol

[@tricitymorte1]

@@chillintheuk yes, you may have to make more than one trip. I can see historical tours of each state taking a year or more. As I recommend to anyone coming to the US for the first time: pick a three state region and plan your trip within those states. You can get more deeply immersed in it without tons of travel. If you can spare a few months, you could increase the range to about 6 states, depending on which ones you pick. You could spend an entire month in some of the larger states. If you go anywhere on the east coast, and want to get really well acquaintanted with the history, allow at least a week in each city you plan to visit (that still won't be enough for everything).

[@690Lighthouse]

Very unusual that the wall behind where they are sitting on the steps has the bricks sloping down, they are normally lain horizontal because sloping bricks can become unstable.

[@chillintheuk]

i thought the same thing, very interesting indeed

[@georgerobartes2008]

Nottingham , proud of its heritage .

[@quinnabun1173]

This is sooooooo fascinating.love what you are doing 😊

[@kacperwoch4368]

A real shame the stairs cut off and don't go anywhere.

[@coppertopv365]

Hopefully some restoration work on the stairs will be accomplished and this might get opened up in the future

[@SDE1994]

would have been even better if the full length could be rebuilt, but i can see from google maps there is a garage in the way

[@jackieclark7460]

Houses

[@danielmkubacki]

So cool!

[@AndrewMartinIsHere]

Fingers crossed for something dateable (eg a coin) that's been left in the cave, although if you find a wine cellar, good luck with drinking that! Great project - well done Janine and her team.

[@TheSilmarillian]

The triple brick is interesting but also from that time period triple bricking would have been common, another maybe its triple bricked to support the arch , will be interesting to see what's back there . Thought why not get a plumber they have diamond drills and inspection cameras attached to optical cable could be a simpler way around the access. hello from down under , new sub here.

[@chillintheuk]

Thanks for your comment, getting a plumber in is a great idea 💡 I will pass this on to Janine when I see her again 😀 thanks for subscribing, hopefully more content like this will be coming soon 🙌

[@marqsee7948]

hey, if that bricked up shoestore area could be cleared out and well-prepared, it could be the production area for a really narrow tea patio... or something.

[@jackieclark7460]

Exactly what I was thinking!

[@pfcxhuyssch]

Great video

[@waveydavie]

Fascinating, some ancestor of mine built a wee house there, I think it was called Wollaton Hall.

[@HansVerhoog]

A very interesting story 👍 I hope you'll succeed in in making it beautiful again and keep this history for many to see for a long time after 🙂 👍

[@chunkdaddy4733]

I’m bricked up just thinking about what’s inside.

[@chillintheuk]

🤣🤣🤣

[@TomJones0065]

Sometimes its so Sad, to see what was and what Use to be, then Look out to Where it WAS, and see so MUCH new YUK! And If she did not come along, it would have been Forgotten FOREVER! Good On You Janine!!! Many Years ago, there was a Old train Station in the Mountains of Colorado, And it was Abandon, and falling apart." sad" and I had asked if it was for sale or if they would. And NEVER Got any kind of answer.. It fell apart when it could have been re built. Sometimes The People in charge, sit on there buts and Let History Fall away!

[@kurtlee3198]

"unfortunately the publisher died!" my man cracks up laughing @9:59 ha ha ha british awkwardness intensifies

[@bluebadger8811]

If you drill a hole into brick or stone and plug it with wood it acts as a raw plug, those look quite linear from the camera angle, could they be the fixing for the sign?

[@chillintheuk]

I never even considered this. Great point and definitely a possibility 👍

[@alisonjackson-bass495]

I was wondering the same.

[@AlfFieldArt]

I suspect Janine is heading for an OBE. Well earned too.

[@chrisbarnes2823]

I’ve been through the cave system under the Castle and under the shopping center. The old tanning pits are under the shopping centre.

[@chillintheuk]

omg I visited this last weekend, its so cool to see and shows how much of our history is still waiting to be discovered. I did make a follow up to this video which included a small part in the city of caves: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZ_NfaewnsuAfdk

[@trevormoat6919]

Really interesting, your comment on caves etc, visit Dover and look at all the caves, going back to before the Castle, right up to WW11 extending and creating more.....

[@chillintheuk]

I would love to visit those caves. Going to start making more content like this soon now they weather is nice 😌

[@user-ki2je2di6i]

Well done and good luck with the rest of

[@suzetteperkins1089]

A little coffee shop in the cave

[@Veniceredmask01]

Would love a cobblers to set up in the cave. Would make a great tourist attraction

[@chillintheuk]

That would be so cool, or a shoe shiner 😂

[@markgiles8527]

Its a crying shame its not going to be open all the time for the public to use - and possibly enjoy. Things like this could being tourist to the area and would be good for the communities businesses. A shame is all i can say.

[@erichunt2059]

probably the brickwork was to reinforce the path above, there are some substantial buildings built close to the path. just feet away on malin hill.

[@thedriver02]

There is probably already a Starbucks behind the wall.

[@meruliouslacrimens5154]

Saw these stair featured on our local news.

[@juncusbufonius]

there is a stair case like this in the old part of St Georges, Grenada. With an area restored as a small quiet space half way up. It connects the Harbour and the Fort.

[@daveratcliffe-lg5rd]

yeah, sadly open something like this up in this country it's suddenly full of alcy junkies. keep it open on request only.

[@alisonstokes4453]

With the bricks sloping wonder if the ground subsliding and also trees growing there in past would it need work to secure the site from that and future work to prevent it

[@sus8e462]

I imagine the architects of the new building above the cave may have an idea--hard to put up a tall building without knowing if the ground it's going on is stable--they might even have used the old caves for their basement or filled for new footings!

[@TheSilmarillian]

Valid point indeed ,looking at the building permits and architects drawing that would be public available through the council could be an idea.

[@scoochysteve]

Drill a hole through the brick and put an inspection camera through...

[@MrPlankinton]

In the U.S. we knock old buildings down and a 100 years later re-build them and call them Historical Re-constructions.