In his book 'Historic Building Mythbusting' the archaeologist James Wright, a resident of Nottinghamshire, has used many case studies from the county to articulate some of the tales which are told about ancient architecture.

These include stories of secret passages underneath Wollaton, ship timbers in Worksop, strange sculptures at Laxton parish church, stones used by archers to sharpen arrows in Wilford, and yarns about "Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem" in Nottingham being the oldest inn in England… but are any of these stories true?