[After] the dissolution the estate came into [the] hands … of Sir Charles Cavendish. Robert Smythson … provided a plan for rebuilding on a vast scale [but only] a short wing … was executed. This still exists as the basis of the S wing. Sir Charles's son, Sir William (created Duke of Newcastle in 1665) built himself a riding school. His architect was Robert Smythson's son John. Dated 1622 on Smythson's drawing, [it] still stands to the NW of the house. Of John Smythson's work on the E range very little survives. [Lady Oxford] called in John James [who] remodelled the existing buildings. Rooms … along the E front were remodelled for the 3rd Duke of Portland by Carr in 1775-7, but little remains. [The] 5th Duke of Portland['s] first work, about 1860 … was the demolition of Carr's one-storey chapel of 1763 … and the erection of three-storey additions in its place. In 1891 … a library and chapel were fitted into Smythson's riding school. The designs (1889) were by Sedding, an architect no doubt chosen by Lady Bolsover, but … all the details are by his … pupil, Henry Wilson. The 6th Duke [of Portland] chose … Sir Ernest George to repair the fire damage of 1900-2. (1)
Large country house. Early C17, some rebuilding by Robert Smythson. Mid C18 Gothick alterations by John James or Thomas Carter. 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 5th Duke, including underground rooms and tunnels. Ernest George [carried out] the remodelling of the Gothick Hall, additions to the east front and the fire damaged west front. (2)
Charles Cavendish acquired the abbey in 1607. [He] began a grand remodelling. His work included the rebuilding of a monastic guest wing to form a state suite. A letter to Charles' wife Katherine in 1608 referring to building work at Welbeck may well indicate these activities. By 1612 … the state rooms in the south west wing of Welbeck were presumably inhabitable. (4)
See M4375 for abbey.
Grid ref centred.

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

CUCAP EE089

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

CUCAP ABO62

Listed buildings slides, 33 slides (Photograph). SNT2648.

S Buck, 1766?, Welbeck Abbey, West View (Plan). SNT2661.

<1> Pevsner N, 1979, The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire 2nd ed., p 365 - 72 (Monograph). SNT4.

<2> DOE, Listed Building Description (Published document). SNT626.

<3> Thoroton Society, 1955, TTS, p 98-9 (Published document). SNT369.

<4> Thoroton Society, 2003, TTS, p 126 (Serial). SNT1740.

<5> Smith P, 2001, Georgian Group Journal, pp 133-167 (Article in serial). SNT1892.