The Express Offices, Nottingham

Tucked between everyday storefronts on Upper Parliament Street, the Express Offices—also known as the Express Building—stand as a striking piece of Nottingham’s architectural and journalistic legacy. Designed by the city’s most flamboyant Victorian architect, Watson Fothergill, the building first took shape in 1876, intended to house the Nottingham Daily Express, a radical, Liberal, and Nonconformist newspaper that was a prominent voice in the city until 1918.

Fothergill’s design is a bold and brilliant blend of Old English and Medieval styles, complete with gables, decorative brickwork, and pointed arches. The arch above the entrance is inscribed with the initials “F.W.” (Fothergill Watson, before he legally reversed his name). The building reflects not just the artistry of its architect but also the political spirit of its original tenant. Above the entrance, one finds carved likenesses of leading 19th-century Liberal figures, such as Richard Cobden, William Gladstone, and John Bright, champions of the Anti-Corn Law League.

Inside, decorative tiles once lining the Parliament Street façade now sit in the entrance hall, depicting Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Lord Palmerston, and Lord John Russell—a lineup that reads like a Who’s Who of 19th-century British leadership.

Originally constructed with three floors, the building was expanded in 1899—with the addition of a fourth floor to accommodate new printing technology. This extension created a curious quirk: the building features two signatures by Fothergill, one under each version of his name.

Over time, the Express Offices have seen many lives: from saddlery to a Tesco Express, from student flats to retail outlets. Yet, through all these transitions, the core of the building—its character and historical gravitas—has remained intact. It’s more than just a relic; it’s a resilient part of the city’s fabric.

For visitors and locals alike, the Express Offices offer a visually rich and politically charged glimpse into Nottingham’s past—a heritage landmark that still whispers stories above the modern-day bustle.