With a record number of 1,000 caves discovered beneath the city of Nottingham, the UK city now boasts the largest network of man-made caves in Europe.

As the saying goes, “the more you dig, the more you find.” What was initially thought to be a small number of caves has been proven otherwise through ongoing research, elevating Nottingham’s historical significance (with a reference to Robin Hood attached).

According to Scott C. Lomax, the city’s archaeologist, it isn’t just the sheer number of caves that makes this discovery remarkable; it is the long-term use of these 1,000 caves over the span of 1,000 years.

Bishop Asser, in the 9th century, referred to Nottingham as a “place of many caves.” Indeed, caves are prevalent throughout the city, and the recent findings revealed far more than anyone had realized.

“More caves have been discovered than expected, Lomax stated in MSN.

Many of these caves were thought to be lost during numerous construction projects that took place in the 20th century. The discoveries have exceeded expectations, and archaeologists believe additional caves will be uncovered.

Nottingham: the new underground capital of Europe

Surveys began in 2009, but most of the underground caves were uncovered accidentally during routine roadworks, according to MSN.

Initially, it was believed that 425 caves lay hidden beneath city streets, but that number soon escalated to 900. The BBC reported that two new caves are discovered every week in Nottingham, with 22 caves documented just since July.

“These latest discoveries reinforce Nottingham’s reputation as the city with the highest number of underground caves,” Lomax added to MSN.

Dating back at least to the 9th century, and possibly even to the 4th century, Nottingham has carved out caves throughout its history, extending up to the Second World War. Most of these caves were carved out during the medieval era.

The underground world of caves is remarkably diverse, serving various purposes such as storage, industrial work, living quarters, burial sites, tanneries, and shelters during air raids. Archaeologists uncovered a chamber measuring 55.77 feet long and 13.12 feet wide, which is accessible via a vertical shaft, as well as an 18th-century sand mine and a 19th-century cellar, according to Heritage Daily. The majority of the caves are shaped from the soft sandstone that makes up Nottingham’s foundation.

Caves and humans: they go way back

Most homeowners in Nottingham assumed the city was aware of the caves beneath their homes and thus did not consider them significant, Lomax noted to the BBC. One notable find was located beneath the New Castle pub in Sneinton, where a hidden chamber, approximately 200 years old, was discovered after a wall was knocked down, imbuing the journey with a note of adventure.

The inaugural Nottingham Caves Festival on October 17 aims to promote this unique aspect of the city by raising public awareness about the enduring importance of the caves, particularly during the Industrial Revolution, when housing was scarce. The findings highlight the long, enduring relationship humans have had with caves.