There are hopes that work to uncover an historic Nottingham cave bricked up since the Victorian era could start 'within the next year'. The cave, located off the medieval Long Stairs near High Pavement, was once used by a cobbler who sold his shoes there.
After first being created in 1750, it is thought that health and safety reasons forced the closure of the cave in the 1880s. But now, a local heritage group says work to uncover the historical site could soon be underway.
Janine Tanner is the organiser of the 'Notts History - Honour Our Heritage' group, which has been working on preserving the wider Long Stairs area for years. The group gave the site a revamp when they cleared away the vegetation which it had become overgrown with in 2018.
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But speaking about the future work on the cave, Janine Tanner said: "We have estimated that the cost of the project would be £36,000 and so we're going to be registering as a charity later this year and begin trying to get that money. We've been looking after the Long Stairs for five years and we've always thought something could be done with the cave."
Janine Tanner has previously suggested that the cave could become a visitor attraction in future. If it is found that the cave's condition is too unsafe for the public, it has instead been suggested that a window could be installed so people could look inside it when going onto Long Stairs.
Janine added: "That cave has been bricked up since the 1880s, so even the city archeologists don't know what's behind there. I know the funding that it would need and it would be really exciting if we could start work on this soon."
It is believed that Long Stairs dates back more than 1,000 years, once serving as one of Nottingham's busiest walkways. It ran from slums at the bottom of the steps to the top of the cliff, now the Lace Market area, but it was closed to the public in 1933.
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