The Leen: Nottingham's River
This exhibition ran from Thursday 9 October 2025 until Sunday 15 March 2026, at the Weston Gallery, Lakeside Arts.
A touring version of the exhibition boards can be found at Arnold Library from 25 February to 20 April and at Hucknall Library from 12 June to 1 August 2026.
This exhibition puts the Leen at the centre of the story of modern Nottingham. From its source in the Robin Hood Hills above Newstead Abbey to the River Trent at the Meadows, the River Leen connects places and communities.
Drawing on the archives of the Trent River Authority and its predecessor bodies, the materials show the challenges created by the growth of places like Bulwell and Basford and the expansion of industry.
These included pollution from chemicals and sewage, and changing flood risk from urban expansion. New management challenges shaped the redrawing of Nottingham’s political and economic boundaries, and in the 1960s a substantial engineering ‘Improvement Scheme’ diverted the river and fixed the channel behind steel pilings and flood walls.
The Leen: Nottingham’s River evaluates the legacies of historic interventions along the Leen for those who manage and live beside it today.
This exhibition has been jointly curated by Dr David Beckingham and Dr Rachel Dishington (School of Geography) and Manuscripts and Special Collections at the University of Nottingham. The Environment Agency’s Trentside Office, Nottingham, has provided additional input.
Exhibition themes
Further research
Items from our collections are available to consult in the Manuscripts and Special Collections reading room on King's Meadow Campus.
The exhibiition features materials from the records of the Trent River Authority and one of its employees, hydrologist H.R. Potter. The Authority's archive contains a wonderful series of photographs, some of which feature in our digital gallery.
From the blog
A selection of blogs about topics associated with the exhibition.
The Leen: Nottingham's River
Blog introducing the exhibition and the work the Environment Agency is currently involved in, including a drone flight along the river which will be available to view in the gallery.
Investigating River Leen water quality
This 2021 blog by the Blue-Green Cities team presents the findings of University of Nottingham researchers who measured water quality at ten sites along the River Leen.
Events
A series of special events were held to accompany the exhibition. Recordings of some of the talks will be made available on this webpage shortly.
Lunchtime Talks, Djanogly Theatre
How do we make our cities more resilient to flooding?
Dr Emily O’Donnell (School of Geography) explains the ideas behind Sustainable Urban Drainage.
Wednesday 29 October 2025
What’s living in our rivers
Professor Matthew Johnson (School of Geography) introduces the links between aquatic life and our river systems, with research examples from across the region.
Tuesday 11 November 2025
The future of the Leen
This special panel discussion introduces the work of the Environment Agency’s River Leen team and looks at the challenges and opportunities for river management
Wednesday 28 January 2026
Other events
Living and working along the Leen
Local residents shared their memories and explored more images from the archives of local businesses such as Gerard’s/Cussons and institutions such as the QMC. Reminiscences collected at the event are being mapped to the course of the River Leen to examine how its meaning to local residents has shifted over time.
Thursday 13 November 2025
The Lost Leen
Dr David Beckingham lead a number of walks tracing the old route of the river through Nottingham city centre.
Saturday 7 March 2026 and Friday 20 February 2026
The drone footage created by the Environment Agency which featured in the exhibition can now be viewed online via their River Leen Strategy webpage where you can tell your story and learn about how to support the Environment Agency's work on the Leen
The exhibition boards are on tour! Catch them at Arnold Library, and at Hucknall Library (12 June to 1 August 2026)
Follow Manuscripts and Special Collections on social media @mssUniNott https://www.instagram.com/mssuninott to keep up to date with the latest exhibition news, or read the latest issue of our free magazine, Discover.