WELBRCK ABBEY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 935, 19 March 1880, Page 4

WELBRCK ABBEY.

Writing of the subterranean apartments and promenades at Welbeck Abbey, the country seat of the late ec centric Duke of Portland, the “ Sheffield Daily Telegraph ’’ states ; —“ '1 he grounds seems to be literally undermined. Extending in all directions from the abbey are burrows or passages; not mere borings or excavations, but lofty, spacious passages, brilliantly lighted by costly apparatus for letting in sunlight, and where sunlight cannot be admitted, by lights from gas. By an underground passage we come to the celebrated ridingschool, the like of which is not to he found in Europe, or in the world. It is entered by a trap-door, opened by means of a curiously-designed crank in the passage In the days of the Duke of Newcastle it was use! as a riding- school—now it is a magnificent museum of art, over 180 ft. in length. Hundreds of pictures are arranged—not hung—round the gallery, and piled in stacks on the floor are thousands of volunu of books, some modern, and many old, rare, and valuable. The floor of this gallery is of oak, and the ceiling is made to represent a brilliant midsummer sky. Mirrors in profusion are placed about, and light is shed from four chandeliers suspended from the roof, and each weighing a ton. This apartment is lighted up by over 2,000 gas lights, and when all are illuminated the effect must be extremely brilliant. There are some miles of passages under the grounds. One extends from the abbey half the way to Worksop; another was used only by the Duke of Portland. The passages are all broad enough for three people to walk abreast in them, and pleasant to walk in. The library, like thepictnre-gallery, is underground, and is the work of many years, it is divided into five large rooms, and so arranged as to form, when desirable, one very large aoom. The library is 236 ft. long. Another immense and superbly-constructed room has been erected underground. At one end it is approached by a spiral staircase, and at the other by subterranean passages. Church or ballroom? It would do admirably for both. It was begun five years ago, and is left in an incomplete state. There are many of these rooms at Wei heck. They are free from draughts, admirably lighted, magnificently decorated, and all very costly. Comparatively few outbuildings are to be seen. The most remarkable is the new riding-school, a building of gigantic proportions and of extraordinary beauty. The walls are of solid stone, ami the roof of wood, iron, and glass. It is nearly 400 ft. in length and 100 ft. wide, and divided into a great centre and two aisles. The central department is decorated with a frieze of painted brass work representing birds, beasts, and foliage, and of perfect workmanship and elegant design. It is 50ft. high, and lighted by 8,000 gas jets. Here the Duke took pleasure in seeing his horses exercised. The ‘ works ’ are marvels. He employed constantly upon them'over 2,000 workmen. In fact, Welbeck was like an industrial village.”