Welbeck Abbey

The estate was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as belonging to Hugh fitzBaldric. Thomas de Cuckney founded the religious house in 1140. It was an abbey of Premonstratensian canons, dedicated to St James the Great. The abbey was enriched by gifts from the Goushills, D’Eyncourts, Bassets, and other families from Nottinghamshire and it received a considerable grant from King Edward I. In 1393 the abbey came under serious investigation by King Richard II. <blockquote>Pardon to William Broun of Norton by Welbeck of suit of the King’s peace for felonies, treasons and other offences under the following circumstances: Robert Veel, keeper of the rolls of the King’s…

The abbey, its attached picture gallery and the chapel and library are listed Grade I on the National Heritage List for England, and its surrounding landscaped park is listed Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The two pairs of lodges flanking the north and south drives respectively are each listed Grade II*. The grotto is listed Grade II as is the sunken garden and rose arbor. The Chapel and Titchfield Library are listed Grade I.

At the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the site was granted by King Henry VIII to Richard Whalley, of Screveton. After being owned by a City of London clothier, the abbey was purchased by Gilbert, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury for the sum of £555 6s 6d (equivalent to £|r=0}}}} as of ) in 1599. Gilbert was he stepson of the formidable Bess of Hardwick. Through her careful dynastic manoeuvring, Welbeck ultimately came into the hands of her third son, Sir Charles Cavendish, who became owner in 1607. Robert Smythson produced a plan to rebuild Welbeck Abbey, but only small parts of the proposal were carried out, such as the south wing, which later became known as the Oxford wing. Created 1st Duke of…