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Private Road, NOTTINGHAM, NG3 5FQ

Seen from Private Road (which actually continues as the turning to the left in the foreground), Gordon Rise appears unpopulated. However, it is surrounding by housing, albeit at a different level from the road at this point.

The southern end of this small council estate is seen here from Private Road on its final ascent to Woodborough Road. The housing in this estate appears to be typical Nottingham architecture from the 1930s, and if memory serves is similar to that around Wollaton Road and Western Boulevard.

The houses are the typical pattern of Nottingham council housing of the inter-war period. This view is taken from Woodborough Road, and the marked difference in levels is due to the fact that this was the site of one of the many brickworks along the Mapperley ridge. Mapping shows that it had been worked out by the early years of the 20th century.

This could be considered either the end or the beginning of the semi-circular shaped road known as Victoria Crescent. This start or end point is adjacent to the electronic traffic-control barrier positioned at the mid-point along Private Road. Seen here is No.32 where D.H.Lawrence lodged between 1906-08 whilst he was a trainee-teacher student at University College (later Nottingham University). Pedestrians descending the hilly roads from “Mapperley Top” down to the suburb of Sherwood often stop to enjoy the impressive views from this particular point. On a clear day it is said to be possible to ‘see’ Crich in Derbyshire (20 or so miles away). As a result many of Lawrence’s admirers have suggested that his inspiration for the phrase in one of his books “where Nottingham’s hills roll down to Derbyshire's plains” may have resulted from those occasions when he would have gazed out towards Derbyshire from the bay window that can be seen under the eaves of this house to the right of the tree trunk.

Ordnance Survey documents indicate that a benchmark was levelled at 116.778m above Newlyn Datum in 1962 on the side of the left hand house at its front corner

A discrete group of early 20th century housing in Arts and Crafts style, noticeably different from other development in the immediate locality.

A tight crescent of three pairs of Edwardian semi-detached houses and two detached ones, separated from Woodborough Road by gates.

This barrier prevents Private Road from being used by through traffic between Mansfield Road (out of sight in the distance) and Woodborough Road (some way behind the photographer). The rising bollard type device can be retracted by residents using some sort of electronic device.

The main reason for this photo is to show the pillar box which has the remains of a Post Office sign (like this https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4448444 ) on top, indicating that the premises were formerly a Post Office.

Seen from Private Road, the reason for its name is fairly obvious. The land also slopes away quite steeply behind the houses on the right.