There are some quirky facts that are just common knowledge in Nottinghamshire now. Take the fact the city was originally named Snotengaham, and was home to the man who invented ibuprofen.
Others have also probably heard of the famous Great Nottingham Cheese Riot in 1764 and that every single Bramley apple is descended from the same tree in Southwell.
But there are so many more weird, interesting and astounding facts that many of you won't know. Here are 10 of the best:
1. Tarmac
Radcliffe Road in West Bridgford was the first road in the world to be laid with Tarmac, after County Surveyor Edgar Hooley obtained a British patent in 1902.
2. PETA
Animal rights group Peta - People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals - tried to get Nottingham to change its name to 'Not-Eating-Ham' for Christmas in 2014.
3. Braille
Nottingham was the first city to install braille signs in its shopping centres.
4. Lord of the Rings
Gandalf in ‘Lord of the Rings’ may have been based on a woman – Jane Neave from Gedling. She was JRR Tolkein’s aunt, and the author was said to have been greatly influenced by her physical presence and mystical tendencies.
5. Earthquake
Nottingham was the first place in England to record an earthquake – back in 1180. There have been many tremors and earthquakes since that time across the UK, though none quite as major as those seen overseas in the likes of Japan and New Zealand.
6. Ghandi visit
Mahatma Gandhi visited Beeston in 1931. He was visiting his nephew JV Joshi, who was studying at the university and lodging in Linden Grove.
7. Radio phone-in
The UK’s first radio phone-in was on Radio Nottingham on February 4, 1968. It’s thought the topic was pest control.
8. Lemmings
The myth that lemmings throw themselves off cliffs is thought to have originated from Arthur Mee, a former editor of the Nottingham Post. He included the incorrect information in an edition of his ‘Children’s Encyclopedia’, published from 1908 to 1964.
9. Atomic clock
The first accurate atomic clock was built by Nottingham-born physicist Louis Essen in 1955 – and was accurate to one second in 300 years.
10. Helicopter service
July 1956 saw the first ever UK helicopter commuter service, between Lenton in Nottingham and Leicester, costing 11 shillings single or £1 return. It was launched by Transport Minister John Profumo but only lasted until November, because of fuel prices and the Suez crisis.
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