During l954 i was involved in electrical installation work,employed as a fifth year electrical apprentice with a national electrical contracting company.when i was told by one of the staff that the cupolas were made of wood i did not believe them ,and only discovered years later that it was true.

the !stables!were occupied by various breeds of dogs,i asked the duchess, who was caring for the dogs,why this was so,she told me that normally the stables were used to home the hounds,but recently the hounds were cared for on an individual basis by the tenants on the estate.and the stables housed homeless dogs i was amazed.!!
the dukes valet used to be a captain in the black watch.he had a pair of the duke of gloucesters shoes obtained from his valet(apparently they did not fit the duke of gloucester)i bought them for three pounds,almost a weeks wages in those days.