Landscape park with much woodland, c.1200ha, having had extensive C19 and early C20 formal gardens in vicinity of house.
House originally Premonstratensian foundation, 1153-54, remains incorporated in C17, C18, C19 development. Plan by Robert Smythson, part executed; Riding School by John Smythson 1622; house remodelled, extended by John James 1742.46; Gothic Hall built 1749, remodelled 1900-02. Much alteration and addition in C19 by the fifth Duke of Portland, c.1S60-79, including New Riding School, 250m-long range of hothouses, and several large underground rooms (library, ballroom) to the west of the house, with long tunnels extending from the house to different boundaries of the estate, e.g. north-east for 2km to the old Worksop road. Oxford Wing severely damaged by fire c.1900, redesigned and restored by Ernest George and Yeates 1902.
C17 formal gardens largely obliterated. Kitchen Garden 1744 by Francis Richardson, who landscaped region east of house in mid-C18.
Repton advised, and produced 2 Red Books, Jan 1790, May 1793. A further notebook, April l803, mainly concerned with an unexecuted scheme for a new house. The principal development which followed his advice was the extension of the lake to the east into a series of 5 sinuous lakes linked by weirs, and running north-west south-east for 5km - ie. Gouldsmeadow Lake, Shrubbery Lake, Great Lake, Carburton Forge Dam Lake and Carburton Dam Lake.
Sluices redesigned by George and F W Hodson, also responsible for construction of Abbey Bridge 1901. Much landscaping and gardening in late C19 and early C20. Shrubbery with lawn, topiary hedges giving formal framework, individual and grouped trees and shrubs extending 0.5km north of house. Three large parterres to east and south of house, between lower reach of Shrubbery Lake to east, and between Cricket Ground to south. All these much simplified in 1940s, and now largely obliterated. Woodland to north, west and south of house. Further woods on rising ground to east, beyond the five lakes.
Welbeck Abbey now leased to Ministry of Defence. Walled kitchen garden now re-developed as paddocks, garden centre and craft centre. (2)
See M8702 for Welbeck Abbey House, M5376 for Deer Park.
NB PG is larger than registered area.

<1> Notts Historic Gardens Trust, 1995-1997, Notts Historic Parks and Gardens Files (Unpublished document). SNT4553.

<2> English Heritage, 1985, Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England - part 33, Notts (Published document). SNT4554.

<3> Unknown, 27/10/1928, Country Life, p 581 (Article in serial). SNT4561.

<4> Unknown, 30/09/1933, Country Life, p 346 (Article in serial). SNT4562.

<5> Carter G, Goode P and Laurie K, 1982, Humphry Repton (Published document). SNT4556.

<6> Holme C, 1908, Gardens of England in the Midland and Eastern Counties (Published document). SNT4558.

<7> Pevsner N, 1979, The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire 2nd ed. (Monograph). SNT4.

<8> Stroud D, 1962, Humphry Repton (Published document). SNT4555.

<9> Thoroton Society, 1967, TTS, pp 72-89 (Published document). SNT380.

<10> Throsby J, 1796, Thoroton's History of Notts Vol 3, pp 382-3 (Published document). SNT1347.

<11> Baddeley V, 1994, Some North Notts Parks and Gardens (Unpublished document). SNT1972.