A long-established alleyway, Nottingham Court, links this section of Short’s Gardens to Shelton Street. In the 17th century, Heneage Finch, first Earl of Nottingham had a house in nearby Great Queen Street, which at the time was newly fashionable with the Royal Court. Nottingham Court appeared on maps from the mid 18th century when the area was already built-up. It was probably a trades entrance.
It crops up again in 1899 in Charles Booth’s poverty maps, where it is coloured black, indicating an alley lined with extreme poverty and being semi-criminal in nature.
The north-western end of the north-eastern side of the Court is taken-up with the return-elevation of the modern residential and retail development fronting Short’s Gardens – nos. 1-3 (consec.), Nottingham Court. A three-storey, late-19th century warehouse – nos.4-7 (consec.), Nottingham Court – faced in Suffolk (silver-grey) brick with red brick dressings takes up the central part of the north-eastern side of the Court. The north-western end of the south-western side of the Court is taken up by the single-storey return-elevation of a small shop fronting Short’s Gardens and by a 1970s single-storey block containing the Hope Community Church. A three-storey, late-19th century warehouse and taller, early-19th century warehouse, both faced in London Stock brick, take up the central part of the south-western side of the Court. Each side of the south-eastern end of the Court is lined with the return-elevations of the late-19th former warehouses fronting Shelton Street (see Section 32 – Shelton Street – North-western side for full details of nos. 37 and 39, Shelton Street).
The surviving 19th century warehouses are of particular architectural interest and contribute positively to the character, appearance and significance of the Seven Dials Conservation Area.
The refurbishment and enhancement of all the properties in Nottingham Court would serve to give life back to this presently gloomy and unloved thoroughfare.
