Description:
Looking east from Bottle Lane with The Three Tuns public house on the corner. Fletcher Gate comes in from the right and then continues as Queen Street to the left - widening of both these thoroughfares resulted in demolition of The Three Tuns in 1972.
The Lace Market area grew up around the original 6th century heart of the city, and became a bustling and thriving commercial centre.
In 1675 William Lee of Nottingham invented a framework knitting machine, which developed into a loom creating hexagonal mesh lace. This marked the beginnings of the highly profitable lace industry in the city.
The name 'Lace Market' was given to the area in 1847 after entrepreneurs had turned it into a centre for lace production visited by merchants from all over the world. At its height in 1914 there were over 1,500 lace warehouses and manufacturers in the area. However, the lace industry (and Lace Market) began to decline after the First World War as a result of debts and changing fashions. Today there are no lace factories remaining in the city, though the Lace Market area is gradually being redeveloped with shops, cafe-bars and apartments.
Picture the Past website contributor Geoff Kevan adds: 'I believe the landlord of The Three Tuns pub in 1970 was my brother-in-law, Les Jackman. I only visited it once, just before marrying his sister, and the memory that remains with me to this day is of being asked to pay for my first beer! Thanks Les.'