Friday, October 02, 2009

Thoresby Park / Thoresby Estate various photographs.

 



Above: Nelson's Pyramid, Thoresby Estate.

Charles Pierrepont, like his father before him, served in the Navy and saw active service against the French in 1798. Not surprisingly then, the Pierrepont family were ardent admirers of Lord Nelson. The south side of Thoresby Lake in particular features many tributes to the famous admiral, such as Nelson’s Grove, incorporating Nelson’s Lodge (used for many years by the game keepers), and Nelson’s Pyramid. It is approximately 12ft high (c.3.5 meters). It was built in 1799 by Charles Herbert, specifically to commemorate Nelson’s victory at the Battle of the Nile, and on each inner side of the entrance way were listed both the French and English ships involved, together with details about guns and casualties. I have not visited Nelson’s Pyramid myself, but am told that soldiers billeted in that region during the first and / or second World Wars. These troops are also said to have added their own names to the walls. (My thanks to Stephen Richard Aizlewood for the use of his photograph).


Above: Proteus Camp, Thoresby Estate.

There are several post cards depicting troops billeted in Thoresby Park during both World War 1 and 2. Lady Manvers’ splendid paintings also record those times. In 1942 a more permanent military presence, Proteus Camp, was established in the woods near Ollerton roundabout. During World War 2 Thoresby, Clumber and Rufford were considered good training grounds for tank crews on the basis that the terrain might be akin to those regions in Europe to which they were destined. (For more information and pictures of Thoresby estate / Perlethorpe at War see THIS LINK). The above  photograph shows Proteus Camp as it was in 1965. At its peak, probably during National Service,  Proteus Camp contained 1,000 personnel. In later years the camp became known as the Dukeries Training Centre before becoming “surplus to requirements” and eventually closing down in 2004. In 2008 plans were developed to use the site for new cabins as holiday homes.


Above: The Roundhouse, Thoresby estate.

Also known as “Summer Boxes”, the Roundhouse stands amongst the trees a little further up the hill from Thoresby Hall. In the days when horses were the most common source of power throughout Thoresby Estate, for transporting timber to and from the Woodard, or working on Home Farm, this is where they would be kept during the Summer months. During Winter they would be moved into the stables in the courtyard opposite. The photograph below (2008) shows a feeding trough still standing in the corner of those stables when the site functioned as a successful Art Gallery and the Roundhouse itself was used to sell plants to visitors.


Above: Gardeners at Thoresby Hall c. 1959.

William Gordon Craig (centre), father of William Craig the Woodyard’s foreman of the time, was the head gardener at Thoresby Hall during the mid to late 1950s. I don’t know the names of the two men seated each side of him. When a homesick William Gordon returned to Scotland he was replaced by Mr MacSkimming, another Scot, who would be replaced in turn by Mr Nettleship (1963 / 64). For pictures of other Thoresby Estate workers see THIS LINK.

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15 Comments:

Blogger robin hood said...

Thoresby, Pierrepont, Manvers, Proteus Camp, Lord Nelson, Thoresby Hall.

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Anonymous 46175 said...

that pyramid is awesome

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Blogger robin hood said...

Hi 46175,

the pyramid is also perhaps the one thing on this site I haven't seen.

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Blogger Tree House Treats said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

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Blogger Tree House Treats said...

Any trace of earlier Thoresby gardeners? Am curious about Henry J. Moore, who worked at Thoresby Hall as a young gardener, prior to training at Kew Gardens, prior to teaching in USA; Upstate New York Cornell University, and Ontario Horticultural College, at Guelph, Ontario, and who ultimately conceived of the U.S./Canadian border International Peace Garden (IPG) dedicated in 1932.

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Blogger robin hood said...

Time to Shine:

If I hear of anything I'll let you know. But it's not a name I'm familiar with.

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Anonymous cheryl ujvary said...

hi my grandparents lived and worked at thoresby hall,my grandmaother worked in the main house and not totaly sure about my grandfather,his surname was ujvary,my mother and antie and uncle all grow up there to ,they even played in the main house,i dont no that much about my grandfather other than im sure my mum told me he was 1 of the head games keeper or head gardener,there is a picture of an unknown man on ur site n he fits my grandfathers body frame ,alot of pictures was lost yrs ago and only pic i have is with his head missing so iv never seen what exactly he looks like,i wondered is there more pictures of staff who worked in the main house and out,my grandmothers name was coral ujvary,the date must of been around 1955 onwards,i would be gratefull if theres any information about them,thanks

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Blogger robin hood said...

Hi Cheryl.

Thanks for the information and the story.

I have no further old pictures or information of Thoresby staff at present, but will be sure to post them if I get any.

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Blogger Kerri said...

As a child I grew up in Budby in the late 80's/90's and as 1 of 4 children in the village, I guess we roamed everywhere! I always wondered what that navel pyramid was, always thought it was strange, stuck out there, now I know. Beautiful village, memories which will last a life time.

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Blogger Ian Gordon Craig said...

Hi Kerri.

I lived at The Woodyard and Perlethorpe Village for my entire childhood.

This pyramid a was so close to the Woodyard, but I never saw it. Probably too busy trespassing in the "Pleasure Gardens" beside the lake but south of here.

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Blogger Unknown said...

Hello Kerry we remember you! My Mum was Betty Morley lived next door at Green Meadows Budby. Where are you now, we live at Edwinstowe x

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Blogger Unknown said...

Ian, hello are you Jock Craig’s son? As a boy at Budby Jock used to come to Green Meadows and do work on the house for Thoresby. We had a cupboard built and it was always called Jocks Cupboard, bet it’s there today! Lovely memory’s

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Blogger Ian Gordon Craig said...

hello unknown.

yes indeed, that be me. Dad seems to have left his carpentry mark across the Thoresby / Perlethorpe / Budby area. Lovely memories indeed.

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Blogger Woody said...

I’ve seen the pyramid in person .
I’m sure there’s a discrepancy in the date of the battle of the Nile . It’s one year out according to wiki . Who has the right year ?

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Blogger Ian Gordon Craig said...

Hi Woody.

That pyramid is one of the very few things on this estate I never saw, in spite of living so close to it for a number of years. I don't think, when a child, I knew it was there.

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