William Carey (1761-1834)

William Carey - missionary, linguist, printer - left Nottinghamshire in 1793 and changed the world. What remains here is modest but significant if you're into the men and women who genuinely altered the course of things. The local connection runs deep: Carey was born in 1761 in Paulerspury (nearby), worked as a shoemaker and schoolteacher across the county, and preached at various chapels before heading to India where he translated the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit and Marathi among others. Not many English shoemakers can claim to have done that.

You won't find a grand museum or visitor centre - this is more a pilgrimage spot for history enthusiasts and those with a genuine interest in the dissenting movement and early missionary work. The sites tied to his life are dotted around Nottinghamshire rather than concentrated in one place, so it takes some effort to piece together his story. That said, it's absolutely worth the research if you're camping at one of the nearby parks - Little Bunny Retreat or Shelford Nurseries are within 5 to 6 miles - and want something more intellectually engaging than the usual holiday park routine.

Allow a few hours if you're planning a self-guided trail of his local haunts. Spring or summer works best for walking between locations. Admission details are sparse, but most sites connected to Carey are either free or charge nominal fees. He's not a household name like Wesley, but for anyone interested in the Industrial Revolution era or religious history, he's absolutely fascinating.