The NEW Thoresby House, Thoresby Park.

Lady Rozelle Raynes was the only surviving child of Lady Manvers, so when she passed away in 2015, she (to use an old legal phrase) died “without issue”. In other words, no children of her own to inherit Thoresby Estate. Persons studying the history of the Pierrepont family line as it applies to Thoresby will be aware this situation had happened several times in the past. For example, between 1680 and 1773 there had been no less than four Pierrepont Earls and one Duke who died without a son to take over the estate, and so which had to be passed on to other family members. This time it was a situation well prepared for.

In the late 1960s, Thoresby Estate had been divided between Lady Rozelle and the Trustees of the Thoresby Settlement. Her estate in Kneesall was called the “Lady Rozelle Raynes' Pierrepont Estate”. In the early 1970s, she decided to leave her property to Nottinghamshire-based cousins. Her Kneesall estate went to I.D.P. Thorne, a descendant of the 3rd Earl Manvers, while she and her husband lived in Newham and Devon before retiring back to Thoresby in the early 2000s.

Thoresby Estate was eventually inherited by Hugh Matheson, another descendant of the 3rd Earl Manvers, who had managed the farming and forestry enterprises there since 1975, not to mention being Sheriff of Nottingham in 1997. However, amongst his many outstanding achievements, one in particular must have caught the eye of Lady Rozelle (she being a lifelong yachting enthusiast), should any interview / application process have been necessary: Hugh Matheson was a keen rower since his university days, had coached several winning Oxford boat race crews, and gone on to coach Olympic winners in that sport. One can be sure they had much to chat about.

The new Thoresby House, home to the Matheson family, began construction in 1994. It looks out onto Thoresby Lake, its grounds partly extending on to the site once known as the Pleasure Grounds. In September 2019 I took advantage of their Heritage Tour of the property, guided by Mr Matheson, and was able to view artwork and furniture from the original Thoresby Hall. A highly recommended seasonal event should it come around again.

Please note: This is a private residence. Publishing photographs taken inside this house is quite rightly strictly forbidden.

Above: The "waif and stray" sculpture which used to stand at Lady Rozelle's residence now stands in the grounds of the new Thoresby House. It's theme reflects her charitable activities.

The Woodyard, Thoresby Estate. One last look around.

 

 The above painting by Leslie A Miles (1943) depicts Three Gables, Thoresby Park, as it was when Clerk of Works Noel Whitworth lived there 1940 – 50. My thanks to James Whitworth for allowing me to post it here to illustrate comparisons with the building as it appeared in 2019 (below).

 

During the Heritage Open Day tour of 2019, I gained permission from the owner of Thoresby Estate to take a few photographs of The Woodyard. Please be advised that security throughout the estate has to be a prime issue these days, and the public road that once linked this complex of building to Perlethorpe in one direction and Edwinstowe in the other, no longer exists.

Times change, as change they must. The “industry” once so active behind these walls is much diminished, and there has been speculation that what still exists could perhaps be more profitably moved to the farm building in Perlethorpe Village. Time will tell.

 Above: One time home to the Williamson family, and later the Dews.

Above: Once the office of the Clerk of Works.

 Above and below: Three Gables. Gone is the once so well established Victorian garden.

For more information about The Woodyard see also the following links:

Three Gables, the Woodyard

the Woodyard, Thoresby Park, Nr Ollerton

Thoresby Estate workers c.1962

Perlethorpe Primary School class of 1964 / 65.

I am thankful to ex-pupil Eric Fretwell for this school photograph, one I hadn’t come across before, it being from a time just after I had left the estate. The teachers are of course Mrs Morgan and Mr Bollans. We are neither of us exactly sure of all the pupils’ names involved, so If anyone can help do leave a comment.

Left to Right: Yvonne Graham, Gordon Hodgkinson, Valerie Johnson, Unknown, Unknown, John Dew, Unknown, Unknown, Simon Morgan, Eric Fretwell (Back), Nicholas Almond, John Wignall, Unknown (Front), Alan Wignall (Back),
Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, David Dewhurst, Nigel Dew, Brian George, Brian Lupton, Unknown, Janet Carter (Back), Unknown, Michael Roberson, Dawn Johnson, Jonathan Bollans, Unknown.

For more about Perlethorpe School, now the Perlethorpe Environmental Education Centre, see the following links:

 Perlethorpe School

 Perlethorpe School teachers

Perlethorpe School c.1953 / 54

 Perlethorpe Environmental Education Centre / former Perlethorpe Primary School.