Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 30 October 2024 to reformat the text to current standards.
SK 5674 and SK 5774
12/192
WELBECK
WELBECK ABBEY
MAIN DRIVE
Welbeck Abbey and attached Picture Gallery, Chapel and Library.
(Formerly listed as 2 items, Welbeck Abbey and Library and Chapel formerly the Old Riding School at Welbeck Abbey)
8.2.72
GV.
I
Large country house. Mid C12, mid C13, early C17, some rebuilding by Robert Smythson now largely remodelled. John Smythson c.1623 built the riding school and stables. The latter demolished in C18, the former now the much remodelled chapel and library.
Mid C18 Gothick alterations carried out possibly by John James or Thomas Carter. Mid C18 garden improvements by Francis Richards. 1775-7, east front remodelled by Carr, subsequently largely remodelled, 1790-2 Repton carried out improvements, moving earth to the west front of the building and turning the ground floor into a basement. 1860-79 programme of building for the fifth Duke, including underground rooms and tunnels. Early 1890s, the riding school converted to library and chapel, in the main to designs by Henry Wilson. 1900-02 work carried out by Ernest George of George and Yates. Notably the remodelling of the Gothick Hall, additions to the east front and the fire damaged west front. Ashlar with some render. Moulded copper tile roofs. Many ashlar stacks.
L-plan extending via a curved picture gallery wing to a further rectangular chapel and library wing, former riding school extension. Fourteen bay, two storey plus attic, over basement. Central pedimented slightly projecting three bay centre, and single bay three storey pavilions topped by parapets at either end. Two storey ranges have modillion cornice. Central doorway has ornate Baroque-style porte-cochere with bold rustication by George. All windows glazing bar sashes, except the five bays to right of central section, which have wooden mullions and leaded casements. Two storey, thirteen bay, north front at right angles, has glazing bar sashes throughout with some blind openings and is topped with a balustrade. Single three storey tower projects, third bay from the west. Domed lantern over seventh bay from west. South front, seventeen bays, three storeys. Central, slightly projecting bay has rusticated pilaster strips and is topped with a segmental pediment, then two outer bays, and single slightly projecting, four storey towers, beyond projecting two bay, three storey, pavilions with pediments, rusticated pilasters and three bays beyond, all surmounted by balustrade. Glazing bar sashes to most windows. Doorway 1743 plaque and 1902 reconstruction plaque.
East front has main two storey plus attic and basement fourteen bay front, with off centre three bay, slightly projecting, three storey pedimented central pavilion with three semi-circular rusticated openings in ground floor, to left, six bays, and to right, five bays all topped with parapet. Baroque-style rusticated venetian doorway second bay from north. Beyond to left, four bay, three storey pavilion, topped with balustrade, with projecting columned entrance loggia over rusticated base with barrel vaulted roof. Glazing bar windows throughout.
North front, very irregular with single storey extension, topped by Gothick gable with pinnacles. From here projects two storey, rendered and ashlar picture gallery wing, with small three-light wooden casements, linking main house to former riding school block. At either end gabled wings with ornate art nouveau decorative work. This block two storey, fifteen bays, with parapet and coped gables with kneelers topped with pair of ornate clock cupolas. Glazing bar sashes throughout. To the rear, each side, are single coped walls with single recessed arches and keystones on each side, terminating in vermiculated rusticted and decorated piers, each topped with four orbs supporting an obelisk. To the south are many glazed skylights to sunken ballroom.
Interior: mid C13 vaulting and doorway in basement. Robert Smythson fireplace decorated with strap work, ornamental urns and brackets with Delft tiles. Bursars study with sexpartite stone rib-vault with Cavendish and Ogle crests, pendant boss and stone tablet with Cavendish stag, panelling as at Bolsover. Set of C18 state rooms mostly remodelled in C19. The Great Hall retains C18 pendant plaster vault. Mannerist revival archway dated 1749, small Gothick room dated 1749 with decorative plasterwork. Library with bookshelves and inglenook alabaster fireplace by Pomeroy with decorative plaster work over and wooden panel surround. Extraordinarily elaborate and sumptuous marble colonnaded arts and crafts chapel with exceedingly fine fittings. Including bronze lectern, decoratively carved benches, Sheffield plate alter front, C17 altar piece by Honthorst, marble, brass and enamel font, marble pulpit. Elaborate bronze entrance doors 1909 by P. Wilson. Decorative barrel vaulted roof.
Listing NGR: SK5640274269
