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Nottingham has no Anglican cathedral, being part of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, based at Southwell Minster in Southwell. Nottingham has three historic parish churches all of which date back to medieval times. St. Mary the Virgin, in the Lace Market is the oldest foundation (dating from the eighth or ninth centuries) but the building is at least the third on the site dating from 1377 to 1485. St. Mary's is considered the mother church of the City and Civic Services are held here, including the welcome to the new Lord Mayor of Nottingham each year. St. Peter's in the heart of the city is the oldest building in continuous use in Nottingham with traces of building starting in 1180. St. Nicholas was rebuilt after destruction in the Civil War.
Non-conformism was strong from the seventeenth century onwards and a variety of chapels and meeting rooms proliferated throughout the town. Sadly many of these grand buildings have been demolished, including Halifax Place Chapel, but some have been re-used, notably the Unitarian Chapel on High Pavement which is now a public house.
In common with most English cities, Nottingham is home to a number of significantly represented minority religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Barnabas by the architect A. W. N. Pugin was consecrated in 1844.
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Nottingham City is divided into three parliamentary constituencies— Nottingham North, East and South— Nottingham North has been represented by the Labour MP, Graham Allen, since 1987. The other two city constituencies have returned Labour MPs since 1992. The three principle suburban boroughs approximate to three parliamentary constituencies, namely Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe. Broxtowe and Gedling have returned Labour MPs since 1997. Rushcliffe has returned Ken Clarke (former Chancellor of the Exchequer) since 1970. Labour won Broxtowe and Gedling in the landslide of 1997 prior to which they were held by the Conservatives. The status quo was maintained in 2001 and 2005; however, all with reduced majorities and increased votes for the Liberal Democrats.
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Nottingham is home to the headquarters of Boots the Chemists, founded in the city by John Boot in 1849 and substantially expanded by his son Jesse Boot (Lord Trent). Other large current employers include the credit reference agency Experian, the energy company Powergen, the tobacco company John Player & Sons and the American Credit card company Capital One, whose European offices are situated by the side of Nottingham station.
Until recently bicycle manufacturing was a major industry, the city being the birthplace of Raleigh Cycles in 1886 and later joined by Sturmey-Archer, the creator of 3-speed hub gears. However, Raleigh's factory on Triumph Road, famous as the location for the filming of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, was demolished in Summer 2003 to make way for the University of Nottingham's expansion of Jubilee Campus.
Many of the UKs railway ticket machines and platform departure boards run software written by Atos Origin in their offices in Nottingham. Other major industries in the city include engineering, textiles, knitwear and electronics.
Nottingham is progressively changing from an industrial city to one based largely in the service sector. Tourism—particularly from the United States and the Far East—is becoming an increasingly significant part of the local economy.
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 A view of the Nottingham skyline
A view of the Nottingham skyline
Nottingham has two main Theatre Royal (which also houses the Royal Concert Hall). There are also several art galleries which often receive national attention, particularly the castle museum and the Angel Row gallery (attached to the main library). Both of the city's universities also put on a wide range of plays, concerts, and other events throughout term time.
The annual Goose Fair is always popular, although in recent years this ancient festival has been marred by incidences of violent crime and other public order problems. More generally the city is regarded as having a good nightlife with many clubs and bars in the centre of town that are popular amongst both the local and student communities.
The city is home to two football teams: Nottingham Forest (currently in the Football League One) who under their most famous manager, the late Brian Clough, won the European Cup twice in succession; and Notts County (who play in the Football League Two) and who are the oldest Football League team in the UK. having been founded in 1862 (a year before the establishment of the Football Association). The Trent Bridge cricket ground, home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, winners of the 2005 County Championship, is frequently a venue for international Test matches.
All three famous sports venues are within sight of each other even though the River Trent separates Trent Bridge and Forest's stadium (known as the City Ground and next to the cricket ground) from Notts County's pitch. As a curiousity the County Ground is actually in the City of Nottingham and the City Ground is in the County of Nottinghamshire the river forming the boundary. Further more, Forest should not be confused with The Forest which is an (open) green space where Goose Fair (see above) is held.
 New Buildings on the South Side of the Lace Market are.
New Buildings on the South Side of the Lace Market are.
Also in the city is the Samsung Open is held in the weeks immediately prior to Wimbledon and has been used as warm-up practice by Greg Rusedski.
The National Ice Centre doubles as Nottingham Arena. Mainstream and popular bands play in the arena on tour. There is also an award-winning rock music venue called Rock City and a smaller venue The Rescue Rooms where more alternative rock bands play.
The National Water Sports Centre is based at Holme Pierrepont, with a 2000m regatta lake for rowing, canoeing and sailing, and a white water slalom course fed from the river. A number of other sailing, rowing and canoeing clubs are also based along the River Trent.
Nottingham won the Britain in Bloom competition, in the Large City category, in 1997, 2001 and 2003. It also won the Entente Florale Gold Award in 1998.
Popular tourist attractions in Nottingham include Caves of Nottingham, the Tales of Robin Hood on Maid Marian Way, as well as the City's ancient pubs. There are a number of parks and gardens around Nottingham that are popular among tourists and residents. These include Rufford Country Park, Creswell Crags and Clumber Park being much further away from the city itself.
Nottingham is known for its large teenage alternative scene (Emo, Punk, Goth etc.), the heartland of which is Old Market Square which is currently being redeveloped, to their dismay. Another major hotspot is Rock City.
Unfortunately, as detailed above, the downside of Nottingham's vibrant social scene is a rising crime rate, including one of the highest gun crime rates in the UK outside London. The inner city neighbourhoods of St Anns and The Meadows in particular are notorious for their gangs-and-guns culture. Yobbish behaviour in the city centre itself is also a growing problem, particularly at night and at weekends.
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 The University of Nottingham and Highfields Park
The University of Nottingham and Highfields Park
Nottingham is home to two universities: the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University as well as over 35,000 full-time students. The University of Nottingham's teaching hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, is the largest hospital in the UK. Nottingham Trent University is one of the country's new generation of trade schools. Other notable educational institutions include the further education college New College Nottingham, Nottingham High School and Nottingham High School for Girls.
The Nottingham School of Fashion is a fashion school respected around the country and produced the designer Paul Smith.
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