Broadmarsh

Broadmarsh (also known as The Broadmarsh Centre, and rebranded in 2013 as Intu Broadmarsh), is a shopping centre in Nottingham, England, owned by Nottingham City Council. Opening in 1975, the centre has 55 stores and a total retail floor space of 45,000 m² (484,000 ft²). The shopping centre is attached to Broadmarsh bus station, one of Nottingham's two bus stations.

History

The shopping centre was built at the beginning of the 1970s, in an area that was historically boggy ground, on the outskirts of the medieval town (hence the name). It was once occupied by the Franciscan Friary known as "Greyfriars, Nottingham", which was dissolved in 1539. The area was heavily developed between the 16th and 20th centuries. Despite its historic interest and much local opposition, all the buildings were demolished to accommodate the new shopping centre.

During preparation of the site, many caves and cellars dug into the soft sandstone foundations of the city were rediscovered (both ancient and more recent). The caves were to be destroyed as part of the construction, however, activism from residents and historians allowed the caves to be preserved. Some are now open to the public as part of the City of Caves museum beneath the shopping centre.