The Dukeries and Sherwood Forest
The Dukeries’ is a name used since the eighteenth century to describe a large tract of Nottinghamshire which formerly contained the estates of five dukes.
Because so much of this part of the Midlands was in the private ownership of enlightened noblemen, much of what is left of the once extensive Sherwood Forest has been preserved for the enjoyment of everyone.Clumber Park is open at all times.With the growing pressures on the countryside and leisure pursuits, a Visitors’ Centre has been set up to help people get the most out of their excursions to Sherwood and there is a country park at Rufford just south of Ollerton.
RUFFORD COUNTRY PARK
This consists of some 130 acres of what was formerly the estate of Lord Savile. The Abbey, which was the family seat, has been mostly demolished but work still continues in preserving what is left. The park affords free parking, fine views and picnic places and there is an ice-house and a lake which has been dredged recently and the surroundings landscaped to provide interesting walks. At the southern end is a wild fowl sanctuary. The lake was constructed originally to power the mill built in the second half of the 18th century and this handsome building survives and in corporates an information centre, a small sales point and refreshments. Read MoreTHORESBY HALL
Thoresby Hall was the last great house in the Dukeries to be privately occupied. It was the home of the Pierreponts and contained a wonderful collection of pictures and furniture, - an outstanding specimen of Victorian Robin domestic architecture.In 1980 the house and gardens were bought by the National Coal Board. Read MoreCLUMBER PARK
Clumber Park was
formerly the home park of the Nottinghamshire estates of the Dukes of Newcastle, once extending to 32,500 acres. It is
now a property of the National Trust and open to the public at all times though a charge is made for motors.
It offers 3,800 acres of park farmland, lake, and woodlands, and Clumber Chapel. A map and guide and the bicycle hire
scheme help in the exploration of the Park’s rich and varied bird and wild life.
Since 1981 a cafeteria provides a full service and there is a licensed restaurant in the old Muniment Room.
The Clocktower Shop in the Lincoln stable block and a permanent exhibition of Clumber’s history is open in the
Duke’s Study all close to the site of the great house, now outlined in flagstones.
VISITORS’ CENTRE, EDWINSTOWE
This is to be found on the outskirts of the Forest, just out of Edwinstowe on the B6034 going north. In specially designed buildings, blending well with the surroundings, are special displays showing the history and development of the Forest from Norman hunting ground to the present pressures of modern tourism. After an instructive tour of the displays visitors are then free to wander along the many pathways through the woodlands and finally end up at the Major Oak. Back at the Visitors’ Centre, there is a bookshop and a reference library of appropriate books (to be consulted on request) and an audio-visual auditorium seating 60 people where programmes on the natural history of oak woodlands can be seen at certain times. Refreshments are also available and the car park is free. The forest is manned by a group of rangers who are trained in imparting information on the subject. Read more about Edwinstowe.
WELBECK ABBEY
Welbeck Abbey, the seat of the Bentinck family who no longer live in the Abbey, they occupy Welbeck Woodhouse, a large house in the park. The House and the park are strictly private property. Read more.
OLLERTON
Read about Ollerton
WELLOW
Read about Wellow
See also Bolsover , Cresswell Crags and The Major Oak
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©2004