Top 10 Interesting Facts about Clumber Park

Clumber Park-by Richard Croft-Wikipedia Commonshttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clumber_Park_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2578073.jpg

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Clumber Park

Clumber Park is a country park situated in the Dukeries near workshop in Nottinghamshire, England. It was initially a religious property before it came into the hands of the Holles family. In 1709, it was made a deer park by John Holles the 1st Duke of Newcastle then later became a mansion for Lord Lincoln two generations later.

Work began on the house and park in 1759, under the supervision of Fuller White and architect Stephen Wright. The house was destroyed by a serious fire in 1879 and work continued in 1884 when a temporary front was built with the other sides of the building complete. The house was abandoned due to the effects of the 1st World War which like many other houses during this period was demolished in 1938.

The nearby Grade I listed Chapel in Gothic Revival and a four-acre walled kitchen garden survived. The park came under National Trust management in 1946. Here are 10 interesting facts about Clumber Park.

1. Clumber Park was once used as a deer park

Clumber was initially a religious house in the middle ages before it came into the hands of the Holles family. In 1709, John Holles, the 4th Earl of Clare,3rd Earl of Newcastle upon Tyne, and 1st duke of Newcastle made it a deer park which became a hunting lodge

2. The house was demolished in 1938

The clumber park had serious fire destruction in march 1879. The house held 500 pictures at the time and around a fifth were destroyed in the fire. It was rebuilt in the 1880s under Charles Barry. By 1886, the building was mostly restored although some of the west was yet to be added.

In 1912, the house caught another fire which caused less damage but the effect or the effects of the 1st world war and the great depression forced the abandonment of the mansion which like many other buildings during the period was demolished.

3. The house was largely destroyed by fire in 1879 and rebuilt

Clumber House was destroyed by a serious fire in March 1879. The lumber at the time housed over 500 pictures and around a fifth were destroyed in the fire. Fortunately, 24 of the best collections were on loan to Nottingham Corporation.

Some of the serious losses included a portrait of William Herbert,3 Earl of Pembroke by Antony Van Dyke, portraits of an old man by Rembrandt, a portrait of a lady by Titian and Virgin, and a child by Albert Durer.

4. The serpentine lake took many years to build

Lake at Clumber Park-by PJMarriott-Wikipedia Commonshttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_at_Clumber_Park_-_panoramio.jpg

Clumber Lake is a serpentine Lake that covers 87 acres south of the lake of the Clumber House and extends around 2km to the east. The lake was partially rebuilt in the 1980s and again in 2004 with well-defined paths along the lake after suffering from subsidence from coal mining. Hardwick village lies within the park near the eastern end of the lake.

5. It was designed by Fuller White and Stephen Wright

Lord Lincoln decide to make Clumber his mansion two generations later, where work on the house and park proceeded under the supervision of a carpenter and builder named Fuller White.

White was dismissed in 1767 and Wright took charge of the project replacing some of the 1760s  features in the 1770s. Wright died when the project was still not complete and John Simpson succeeded in designing some of the features in and around the park in the 1780s.

6. The 7th Duke of Newcastle commissioned the chapel building

Clumber Chapel-by Giano II-Wikipedia Commonshttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clumber_chapel.png

The chapel is a masterpiece of Gothic revival architecture which was designed by G.F Bodley from 1886 to 1889. His work on the chapel was considered one of the finest examples of his work. Construction began on the chapel in 1886 with the 7th Duke of Newcastle as the instructor.

It took 3 years to complete with the opening ceremony taking place on 22nd October 1889. Much of its interior was designed by Watts and a co-company set up by Bodley, Garner, and Scott.

7. Clumber park and garden has the longest double avenue of lime trees in Europe

Clumber Park, Lime Tree Avenue-by SMJ-Wikipedia Commonshttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clumber_Park,_Lime_Tree_Avenue_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2217037.jpg

Clumber Park is over 3800 acres in extent, including woods open heath, and rolling farmland. Clumber contains one of the longest avenues of lime trees in Europe which was created by the 5th Duke of Newcastle in the 19th century and extends for more than 3.2 km. The clumber garden also contains vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers, and an ornate rose garden.

The garden grows locally varieties such as ‘clay worth prize pink’ celery and more than 101 varieties of apple from Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands region including the ‘Sissons’  workshop Newton apple. It has a large collection of rhubarb and its lower end is reached by an iron gate to Cedar Avenue.

8. Clumber is a tourist attraction center

The park includes woods, open heath, and rolling farmland. The longest avenue of lime trees in Europe is found in Clumber park and a garden divided by pathways that contain vegetables, herbs, fruit flowers ornate rose garden.

It has varieties of apples and a large collection of rhubarb. Clumber lake is also one of the scenic parts of the National Trusts Clumber park and its nearby grade I listed chapel in Gothic Revival and four-acre walled kitchen garden.

9. Clumber was once a sporting estate in the 8th century

Trees in Clumber Park-by Andrew Hill-Wikipedia Commonshttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trees_in_Clumber_Park_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1928864.jpg

Clumber Park was home to the dukes of Newcastle for over three centuries and was once part of the famous Sherwood forest until it was closed to a hunting park in 1707. It had a house with the best collection of pictures and portraits from famous authors before it was destroyed by fire both in 1879 and 1912, the effects of World War I. Although there is no longer a house in the park there are many clues to its grand past to explore.

10. Clumber has been under the care of National Trust since 1946

After suffering damage from several fires and effects of the 1st World War, most of its properties were sold and land assets were sold to the London and Fort George Land Company in 1927 by the Duke of Newcastle to pay off debts. Due to the great depression, the house was abandoned and this forced its demolition in 1938. The National Trust purchased the land in 1946 which is listed as Grade I on the register of Historic parks and gardens.

Clumber Park was home to the Dukes of Newcastle for over three centuries and was once part of the famous Sherwood forest until it was enclosed as a hunting park for Queen Anne in 1707. The house has endured many changes over the last three centuries.