11/10/2026
When the Caves Collapased - The Blacks Head, Nottingham
In 1991, a serious underground collapse beneath Nottingham's former Broad Marsh area threatened the buildings above and revealed some fascinating evidence of the city's industrial past.
Hidden behind the former Black's Head and Tower public houses was a series of sandstone caves, excavated into the cliff that once overlooked Broad Marsh.
These caves had survived for generations, but in 1991 part of the underground system failed, triggering an emergency engineering operation.
The collapse was not simply the result of an old cave roof becoming unstable. It appears to have developed over many years. The caves had been excavated at different levels, with some possibly dating from different periods. An upper chamber had been opened up and filled with soil and rubble more than a century earlier.
Over time, settlement of this material damaged drainage pipes above the caves. Water escaping from the damaged drains gradually weakened the surrounding sandstone, eventually contributing to a collapse between the underground chambers. The failure extended upwards towards the surface, creating a potentially dangerous situation for the office buildings above.
Engineers faced the difficult task of stabilising the ground and preventing further collapse. Much of the cave system was eventually filled with concrete to make the area safe. Unfortunately, this also meant that significant sections of the underground complex would be lost from view.
During the emergency works, evidence of two important historic industrial features was identified:
- A malt kiln, associated with the preparation of grain for brewing.
- A tannery, connected with the processing of animal hides into leather.
These discoveries provided further evidence that the caves had served purposes beyond their later use as pub cellars.
Sadly, both features were subsequently filled as part of the stabilisation works.
Although most of the affected underground system was filled, a small section of the former Black's Head caves survived.
The original cave surveys and archaeological records are now particularly valuable because they preserve details of spaces and features that can no longer be examined.
For us at the Society, this is a fascinating example of how Nottingham's underground history can be both revealed and lost during modern engineering works.
The 1991 Black's Head collapse demonstrates why surveying, photographing and recording Nottingham's sandstone caves is so important. These underground spaces are not necessarily permanent. Water, ground movement, building work and changes to drainage can all threaten their survival. Without the work of those who recorded the Black's Head caves, much of their history might have disappeared along with them.
Do you remember the 1991 collapse?
Were you working in the Broad Marsh area at the time? Did you witness the engineering works, or perhaps have photographs or newspaper cuttings showing what happened?
We would love to hear from anyone who remembers the incident or has information about the caves before they were filled.
Please share your memories in the comments or message us directly.
Nottingham Historical & Archaeological Society
Historical sources: A. C. Waltham and A. G. MacCormick, The Caves, Malt Kiln and Tannery at the Black's Head Site, Nottingham (1993); A. C. Waltham, Crown Hole Development in the Sandstone Caves of Nottingham (1993).
Historical cave plan copyright T. Waltham, reproduced with permission.
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