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From todays Channel 9.

Nottingham: a rebel city

Story by David Whitley

The door of the dock is closed and the judge stares with a piercing gaze. He seems remarkably young for the job, but there isn't really time to concentrate on this, as the prosecution lawyer is already launching into me. In his eyes I am scum, the lowest of the low, and there is a dreadful sense that this is a show trial. I'm going down, no matter how good my defence.

For the purposes of this reconstruction, I am George Beck, a troublemaker who has finally been collared for burning down a silk mill. I'd like to think of myself as a freedom fighter, a martyr to the cause of getting the vote for the poor and disenfranchised, but this kangaroo court in front of me doesn't seem to agree. A public execution on the courthouse steps awaits me and I'm led down the stairs to the cells.

This mock trial is all part of the tourist experience at the Galleries of Justice in Nottingham. We're greeted by an actor in full Victorian lawyer's garb and then taken through the history of the courtroom by being thrown straight into it. Everyone's a witness, defendant, officer or member of the press as we play out a miniature version of Beck's trial.

Beck was just one in a long line of rabble-rousers that has shaped this city's attitude. His particular bugbear was the House of Lords refusing to pass the Reform Act in 1832, which would have made Britain's laughable excuse for a democracy at that time a whole lot fairer. The gentry, of course, didn't particularly like the idea of giving those ghastly middle classes a say in how the country was run and blocked it. Understandably, the bulk of the population wasn't happy about this and started rioting. Nottingham took a particularly nasty hit in the melee, with several buildings being set upon by the mob and the city's castle being burnt down.

Beck was thought to be behind that torching too and in sticking two fingers up to those in authority, he was following in the footsteps of a rather more famous rebel — Robin Hood.

Robin is synonymous with Nottingham and has taken on iconic status, despite there being no evidence to suggest that he ever existed. The recorded history of medieval times in these parts is shaky at best and nobody is sure whether Robin was a real-life kind-hearted crook or the figment of a storyteller's imagination. Still, the folk hero is revered way above the people he fought. Outside the grounds of the castle, home of his arch enemy the Sheriff of Nottingham, is a fine statue of "the greatest archer in England". He's even made his way inside, with a hedge trimmed remarkably into the shape of Sherwood Forest's most famous resident.

Robin should be thankful he wasn't around during the 17th and 18th centuries. Following the trial in the old courtroom, we get a look at the conditions in the prisoners' quarters. We're greeted by the gaoler, another actor in character. He makes no secret of the fact that if we want decent treatment, we're going to have to continually grease his palms.

He walks us past all manner of nasty instruments of torture. There are stocks, into which people were put all day, having things thrown at them. There are whips, used to flay backs raw. There are scold's bridles, which literally hold the tongue to prevent speech. That's bad, but then comes the room. Three people share it and there is room for nothing but the three hammocks. The prisoners would be expected to live, sleep and eat in this room and all waste products would stay with them, ready to be cleared out with the bare hands the next morning. The only natural light is covered by bars, ensuring that it's unbearably stifling in summer and intolerably icy in winter.

"And that's the good room," the gaoler says, as he takes us further down into the dungeons. With no bribes, it seems, you get consigned to hell. It's a pit, with no light, in which 30-odd men are expected to sleep in a cramped circle, elbow to elbow. Disease-ridden, sleeping in their own filth, these men had no life at all.

It says something about Nottingham that its best tourist attraction is about the criminal element. It's very much in the spirit of Robin Hood, that.

In the city centre, a small plaque lies on the pavement. Most cities try and shunt their buskers along, believing them to be eyesores; here they make a permanent tribute to them. Look out for it on Listergate, the memorial to Frank Robinson, the "Xylophone Man", awarded for "bringing a smile to the faces of the people of Nottingham". One suspects Mr Hood would have approved heartily.

Nottingham is about two hours north of London by train or car. Flights also go from London to Nottingham East Midlands airport, although in truth it is nowhere near the city.

Entrance to the grounds of Nottingham castle, including the Museum of Nottingham Life in the Brewhouse Yard and the Museum and Art Gallery within the castle mansion, costs £3 ($7.50).

The Galleries of Justice (+ 44 115 952 0555/Website: Galleries of Justice) are on the old Lace Market. The excellent Crime and Punishment tour costs £7.95 ($20).

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I love the line when he is dying and say "Bury me where my arrow falls"

Apparantly he was buried on top of his wardrobe................. LOL

;)

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...talking of R.H. ,I read today that Russell Crowe is to star as a GOOD sheriff of Nottingham and Robin is to be a real baddy.Some pretty powerful people to work on the film also. Anyone have the detail?

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...talking of R.H. ,I read today that Russell Crowe is to star as  a GOOD sheriff of Nottingham and Robin is to be a real baddy.Some pretty powerful people to work on the film also. Anyone  have the detail?

Yep - lots of hits if you Google it - including this one: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6722645.stm

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Robin Hood a baddie? Lay off our legend, Hollywood!

A new blockbuster called Nottingham will controversially propose that the Sheriff was actually trying to keep the peace, while Robin Hood was just some young thug in a Lincoln-green hoodie. Pah, I say!

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Seems we are all in agreeance then, thumbsup lovely makes a change doesn't it?

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I can't stand any of these "Celebrities" who think that they are better than those who put 'em there in the first place eg Naomi Campbell knocking her PR about a bit 'cos she new the poor woman needed the job and your man Russel Crowe doing naughty things to people with a mobile phone just because he could

madashell

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I agree, spoilt people with way too much money who have unfortunately listened to the likes of Parkinson,[ to name just one personality] who can't refrain from telling them how talented & how special they are until they believe it & start to behave like complete asses. None of them could do what I consider to be a "proper job" if there lives depended on it. EG. Paris Hilton to name just one dumb spoilt slapper.

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Guest Anne

Can I join in?

I agree with you all 100%.

as for Paris...110%

What can they really do..they aren't even talented or amusing

or even 'nice' people.

I wouldn't give em the time of day mesen!

Now give me Kevin Costener..that's another story LOL

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Guest Anne

mmmmmmmmmm now you're talkin' :wub:

I personally thought Kevin Costener was was great as RH..

but that's just my very humble opinion.

American accent anall.

I liked the Sheriff in his version..he made me laugh..

I think he was suppposed to!

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Didn't see that but Ill take your word for it Anne.

Do you have a Canadian or a Nottm accent?

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They all seem to get the best barristers and lawyers money can buy and get away with it every time (George Micheal today has just got off with a ban for driving whilst unfit through drink and drugs)

IMHO It's one law for the rich and one for the poor

madashell

PS Robin Hood Prince of Theives, Kevin Costner ,Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham

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We (Mick and I) were out in the States when that all kicked off in 1994 I remember the chase along the Freeway with a gun in his hand "And he gets found not guilty" its not just over here where the law is an ass

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Guest Anne

Yes..that's the one Beefsteak, I thought they all took a good part and I enjoyed it. I like Morgan Freeman.

I didn't know the Sheriff's name..yet I've seen him in other things.

I liked it when he told Robin "I'll eat your heart with a spoon" LOL

Have you seen the write up on Paris Hilton today..she was dragged kicking and screaming from the courtroom to serve the rest of her sentence..not at home as she had been doing!!

I still speak Nottingum me duck..but since I've been here so long..I now say tomaaaatoes instead of tomartoes! :rolleyes:

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Hang on there Chickencube.Crowe lives in Aus(Sydney) but he's not actually one of ours,he's a Kiwi :tease:

Will you girls please stop slobberin yer wettin my monitor.

Baz :ph34r:

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