Clumber Park
Encyclopedia
Clumber Park is a country park in the Dukeries near Worksop
in Nottinghamshire
, England
. It was the seat of the Pelham-Clintons, Dukes of Newcastle
.
It is owned by the National Trust
and open to the public.
was monastic property in the Middle Ages, but later came into the hands of the Holles family. In 1709 it was enclosed as a deer park by John Holles - 4th Earl of Clare, 3rd Earl of Newcastle upon Tyne and 1st Duke of Newcastle. Clumber house, by the River Poulter at the centre of the park, became a hunting lodge, but two generations later, about 1759, the then heir to the estate, Lord Lincoln
, decided to make it one of his principal mansions. Over the next few years, work on the house and park proceeded, under the supervision of a carpenter and builder named Fuller White (although he is likely to have been working to plans from architect Stephen Wright). White was dismissed in 1767, and Wright took charge of the project, replacing some of the 1760s features in the 1770s. The project was still not complete when Wright died, and some features in and around the park may have been designed by his successor, John Simpson, in the 1780s.
When, in March 1879 a serious fire destroyed much of Clumber House, the 7th Duke of Newcastle
had it rebuilt to designs by Charles Barry, Jr.
Another fire, in 1912, caused less damage, but the effects of the First World War and the Great Depression
forced the abandonment of the mansion, which, like many other houses during this period, was demolished in 1938. Charles Boot
of Henry Boot Construction, was contracted to do the demolition and he removed a vast array of statues, facades and fountains to his Derbyshire
home, Thornbridge Hall
, although the bulk were lost to private buyers through auction. However, many features remain, including a Grade I listed Gothic Revival Chapel
built by the 7th Duke of Newcastle, and a walled kitchen garden with glass houses.
trees in Europe (pictured). The avenue extends over three miles (5 km), and was created by the 5th Duke of Newcastle in the 19th Century.
The Park was originally left to the people of Worksop by the late Duke of Newcastle but the National Trust
bought it in 1946. Some of the park's estate was subsequently closed to the public. There is vehicle access for the areas that are open to the public, and the parking in the central area has a charge (free for members of National Trust). On the way to the main parking area there is also has a cricket pitch
with a thatched roof pavilion in the style of a cottage clad in rustic split logs. Along the road side are large open areas to park and picnic.
The park is an excellent place for long walks and has several miles of paths and cycle tracks surrounding the lake. The park has a range of bicycles available for hire including tandems and adult tricycles from an estate building located by the main car park adjacent to the chapel and the Visitors center in the old stable block, were a range of facilities are located. Part of the block house a visitor display on the history of the park, the usual National Trust Shop and Restrauant, and toilets. Off the main lime tree avenue are camping facilities.
Route 6 of the National Cycle Network
passes through the park linking it to Sherwood Forest
and Sherwood Pines with only a few road crossings necessary.
The Lake was partially rebuilt in the 1980s and again in 2004 after suffering from the effects of coal mining in the area, which caused subsidence
. The banks had suffered considerable settlement in some areas.
Worksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was the seat of the Pelham-Clintons, Dukes of Newcastle
Earl of Lincoln
Earl of Lincoln is a title that has been created eight times in the Peerage of England.-Earls of Lincoln, First Creation :*William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Lincoln and 1st Earl of Arundel Earl of Lincoln is a title that has been created eight times in the Peerage of England.-Earls of Lincoln, First...
.
It is owned by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
and open to the public.
History
Clumber, mentioned in Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
was monastic property in the Middle Ages, but later came into the hands of the Holles family. In 1709 it was enclosed as a deer park by John Holles - 4th Earl of Clare, 3rd Earl of Newcastle upon Tyne and 1st Duke of Newcastle. Clumber house, by the River Poulter at the centre of the park, became a hunting lodge, but two generations later, about 1759, the then heir to the estate, Lord Lincoln
Henry Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne
thumb|right|"The Return From Shooting" by [[Francis Wheatley |Sir Francis Wheatley]] depicting The Duke of Newcastle, his friend Colonel Litchfield and the Duke's gamekeeper, Mansell along with four Clumber Spaniels....
, decided to make it one of his principal mansions. Over the next few years, work on the house and park proceeded, under the supervision of a carpenter and builder named Fuller White (although he is likely to have been working to plans from architect Stephen Wright). White was dismissed in 1767, and Wright took charge of the project, replacing some of the 1760s features in the 1770s. The project was still not complete when Wright died, and some features in and around the park may have been designed by his successor, John Simpson, in the 1780s.
When, in March 1879 a serious fire destroyed much of Clumber House, the 7th Duke of Newcastle
Henry Pelham-Clinton, 7th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne
Henry Pelham Archibald Douglas Pelham-Clinton, 7th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyme was an English nobleman, styled Earl of Lincoln until 1879.Henry was educated at Eton College and then Magdalen College, Oxford....
had it rebuilt to designs by Charles Barry, Jr.
Charles Barry, Jr.
Charles Barry, Jr. was an English architect of the mid-late 19th century, and eldest son of Sir Charles Barry. Like his younger brother and fellow architect Edward Middleton Barry, Charles Jr. designed numerous buildings in London. He is particularly associated with works in the south London...
Another fire, in 1912, caused less damage, but the effects of the First World War and the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
forced the abandonment of the mansion, which, like many other houses during this period, was demolished in 1938. Charles Boot
Charles Boot
Charles Boot of Sheffield, England was the creator and builder of Pinewood Studios on the estate of Heatherden Hall at Iver Heath in the parish of Iver in Buckinghamshire, England.- Basic biography :...
of Henry Boot Construction, was contracted to do the demolition and he removed a vast array of statues, facades and fountains to his Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
home, Thornbridge Hall
Thornbridge Hall
Thornbridge Hall is a large English country house situated near the village Great Longstone in the local government district of Derbyshire Dales in Derbyshire. It is a grade 2 listed building.-History:...
, although the bulk were lost to private buyers through auction. However, many features remain, including a Grade I listed Gothic Revival Chapel
The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Clumber Park
The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Clumber Park is an Anglican church in Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire England.The church is Grade I listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as a building of outstanding architectural or historic interest.-History:...
built by the 7th Duke of Newcastle, and a walled kitchen garden with glass houses.
The Estate
Clumber Park is over 3,800 acres (15 km²) in extent, including woods, open heath and rolling farmland. It contains a superb, serpentine lake covering 87 acres (352,000 m²), and the longest double avenue of limeTilia platyphyllos
Tilia platyphyllos is a deciduous tree native to much of Europe, including locally in southwestern Great Britain, growing on lime-rich soils. The common name Large-leaved Linden is in standard use throughout the English-speaking world except in Britain, where it has largely been replaced by the...
trees in Europe (pictured). The avenue extends over three miles (5 km), and was created by the 5th Duke of Newcastle in the 19th Century.
The Park was originally left to the people of Worksop by the late Duke of Newcastle but the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
bought it in 1946. Some of the park's estate was subsequently closed to the public. There is vehicle access for the areas that are open to the public, and the parking in the central area has a charge (free for members of National Trust). On the way to the main parking area there is also has a cricket pitch
Cricket pitch
In the game of cricket, the cricket pitch consists of the central strip of the cricket field between the wickets - 1 chain or 22 yards long and 10 feet wide. The surface is very flat and normally covered with extremely short grass though this grass is soon removed by wear at the ends of the...
with a thatched roof pavilion in the style of a cottage clad in rustic split logs. Along the road side are large open areas to park and picnic.
Route 6 of the National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
passes through the park linking it to Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest is a Royal Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, that is famous through its historical association with the legend of Robin Hood. Continuously forested since the end of the Ice Age, Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve today encompasses 423 hectares surrounding the village of...
and Sherwood Pines with only a few road crossings necessary.
The Lake was partially rebuilt in the 1980s and again in 2004 after suffering from the effects of coal mining in the area, which caused subsidence
Subsidence
Subsidence is the motion of a surface as it shifts downward relative to a datum such as sea-level. The opposite of subsidence is uplift, which results in an increase in elevation...
. The banks had suffered considerable settlement in some areas.