Description: An engraving looking towards Clifton Hall. This scene is a pastoral one showing people strolling in the avenue of trees above the Grove. Clifton Grove is still a peaceful woodland area that runs from Clifton Bridge for a distance of 2 miles (3 1/2 km) along a cliff on the south-east bank of the River Trent. The green canopy covers the entire cliff face with a path at its base running along the river bank. The summit of the cliff consists of a wide grass lane with a row of trees orderly arranged on each side. To the south, the Grove merges into the Clifton Wood adding a further kilometre to one of Nottingham's forgotten retreats. It was planted in 1677 by Sir William Clifton to provide a spectacular avenue of elm trees along the carriage route to Clifton Hall. Visitors would travel the full length of the grove, starting at a small stone bridge over Fairham Brook up the gradual slope of the Cliff and ultimately to the gates of Clifton Hall itself. The original bridge over the brook collapsed in 1910 but a new one quickly replaced it and it is still in use today as a foot bridge into the grove. At one point the Clifton family tried to close the Grove to the public. The attempt failed and the Grove became Nottingham's most popular retreat from the city in the 19th century and still attracted large numbers into the 20th century. Shaw's Guide To Nottingham, published in 1874 describes the Grove:- 'At Easter and Whitsuntide, if the weather at all permits, thousands of the Nottingham artisans with their wives and families, young men and maidens, either with sweethearts or to gain sweethearts flock to the Grove.' Barkers Walks Around Nottingham described the trees on the main avenue during his visit to the Grove:- 'I was struck at seeing the immense number of initials and dates carved upon the bark of the trees for about 150 yards from the gate...The oldest time allowed me to trace was under the letters T.W., 1754'. Legend has it that a young squire in the service of Sir Gervase Clifton and a maiden of Clifton fell in love just before the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. The maiden gave the squire half a gold piece as a token of her love and pledged to wait for his return when they would marry. She retained the other half of the gold coin as her own memento of love. The squire followed William Clifton to fight in France. Eventually he returned to marry his beloved only to find the maiden had broken her promise and married a wealthy local man. He is then said to have killed himself by plunging into the Trent in despair. The guilt ridden maiden was soon after dragged into the river by a demon at the great 'chasm' in the grove below Clifton Hall. The Nottingham poet, Henry Kirke White wrote the poem called 'Clifton Grove' that has a number of verses devoted to the legend. Clifton Hall is a Grade I listed building. The building which can be seen here is largely Georgian in character and supercedes a previous medieval home. Alterations and additions to the house were carried out over the years by John Thorpe, c1611, and by John Smythson (stables and lodges dated 1632), and most noteworthy, John Carr of York, who was responsible for transforming the Hall, during the years 1779-97, into a Georgian house. (Information partially extracted from Anne Bloomfield's 'Clifton Hall an introductory guide). The earliest complete element is the southern wing which contains many interiors of great importance, mostly panelled, a chimney piece probably designed by John Smythson and complete 17th century decorated interior - the Pages Room - with chequered black-and white marble floor and painted panelled walls with figures in 17th century military dress. In the centre between the north and south wings is the Octagon (a full height plastered early Rococo hall interior of the mid 18th century). To the north is a square block designed as servants and service accommodation by John Carr of York (1779). At the same time he added the Doric colonnade and re-fronted the south elevation in ashlar, with a large central bow front. It was home to The Clifton Family. The building was for many years during the 20th century a Grammar School. Most recently it was occupied by Nottingham Trent University and used for education training and offices. With the re-organisation of the University it became surplus to their requirements and closed in 2000. It was sold in 2001 to the Raven Group (housing developers) who have proposals to convert the Hall into flats and for the construction of a new extension to replace the canteen and ancillary buildings. The Hall has been vacant since 2000.