The house from an early 20th century postcard
The house, seen from across the Lake, from an early 20th century postcard.
The house from the Aug 19, 1893 issue of "The Illustrated London News"
The house from the Aug 19, 1893 issue of "The Illustrated London News"
House & Family History: Clumber, formerly home to the dukes of Newcastle, was once part of Nottinghamshire's famed "Dukeries." The enormous Italianate house at Clumber, designed and built in the 18th century to the designs of Stephen Wright, was almost entirely demolished in 1938, the Duke's Study being the only surviving bit. The outline of the house is preserved today by paving stones in the grass.
Collections: William Hoare's "1st Duke of Newcastle" and "The Rt. Hon. Henry Pelham" were sold to the House of Lords. The Newcastle Papers were sold to Nottinghamshire University Library. The hall at Aske Hall has a fireplace that was removed from Clumber, while Buxted Park has, in its dining room, a circa 1715 chimneypiece from Clumber. Circa 1807 Thomas Johnes purchased fireplaces from Fonthill Splendens, which he installed at his Welsh seat, Hafod; when the 4th Duke of Newcastle purchased Hafod in the early 19th century he removed the Fonthill fireplaces and had them installed at his primary seat, Clumber Park.
Garden & Outbuildings: The grounds (over 3,800 acres) of Clumber today contain at their heart an L-shaped serpentine lake, complete with wooded islands, and dotted with the Doric Temple, gate piers, and lodges, all part of the designs of Stephen Wright and done up in the mid-18th century for the 4th Duke of Newcastle. Clumber also contains the longest avenue of lime trees in Europe, planted in 1840 by the 4th Duke. In the Victorian era pleasure gardens bursting with paths and specimen trees were laid out by William Sawrey Gilpin. There are also late 19th century greenhouses (glasshouses), a fig house, a walled kitchen garden, and vineries. The four stone urns that today surround the central fountain in Harewood House's terrace were purchased in 1937 by the 6th Earl of Harewood from Clumber Park. The stableblock, which probably pre-dates the house, is extant.
Chapel & Church: G.F. Bodley built a High Victorian Gothick style chapel, 1886-89, for the 7th Duke of Newcastle. The duke was a devoted Anglo-Catholic and created on his estate a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture. The chapel contains stained glass by C.E. Kempe.
Architect: Stephen Wright
Date: 1760sArchitect: George Frederick Bodley
Date: 1886-89John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 126, 1854.
John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. III, 1820.
Country Life: XXIV, 352, 1908.
Title: Harewood Guidebook - 1990s
Author: 7th Earl of Harewood
Year Published: NA
Reference: pg. 51
Publisher: Yorkshire: Harewood House Trust Ltd.
ISBN: 0952102145
Book Type: Softback
Title: Lost Houses of Wales, The
Author: Lloyd, Thomas
Year Published: 1989
Reference: pg. 51
Publisher: London: SAVE Britain's Heritage
ISBN: 0905978277
Book Type: Softback
Title: Buildings of England: Sussex, The
Author: Pevsner, Nikolaus; Nairn, Ian
Year Published: 1973
Reference: pg. 466
Publisher: London: Penguin Books
ISBN: 0140710280
Book Type: Hardback
Title: English Country House From the Archives of Country Life, 1897-1939, The
Author: Hall, Michael
Year Published: 1994
Publisher: London: Mitchell Beazley
ISBN: 1857325303
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Disintegration of a Heritage: Country Houses and their Collections, 1979-1992, The
Author: Sayer, Michael
Year Published: 1993
Publisher: Norfolk: Michael Russell (Publishing)
ISBN: 0859551970
Book Type: Hardback
Title: National Trust Handbook 2008, The
Author: Peel, Lucy (Editor)
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pg. 220
Publisher: England: The National Trust
ISBN: 9780707804064
Book Type: Softback
House Listed: Demolished
Park Listed: Grade I
Past Seat / Home of: Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, 18th century; Henry Pelham Archibald Douglas Pelham-Clinton, 7th Duke of Newcastle-Under-Lyne, 19th century.
Current Ownership Type: The National Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction
House Open to Public: Grounds Only
Phone: 01909-476-592
Fax: 01909-500-721
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Historic Houses Member: No