The Dukeries

Worksop is the Gateway to the Dukeries which contains many amazing photographic opportunities through the year.  Opportunities to see ancient plants gown by traditional methods and shy animals in tranquil setting.
 
The Dukeries
The Dukeries were created when the monarch granted forest land on the edge of  the Sherwood Forest, south of Worksop, to a number of nobles to build country estates in the 18th century.  The forests and heaths were landscaped into parks and gardens surrounding magnificent mansions by damming rivers to form lakes,  building estate villages and planting ornate gardens.  

The largest of the Dukeries estates is Welbeck, still the seat of the Bentick family, which was built by the Dukes of Portland.  The dukes descendents still live on and own the estate today.  The estate has become the home for a number of businesses in the estate buildings and the old military school in recent years. The walled garden has developed in to a nursery, gallery and farm shop selling local produce with a large car park that can be used for waking access to the estate.   Access to the estate grounds is limited to public rights of way and it is advised not to stray from the paths and obey any warning signs.   

Clumber Park was originally owned by the Dukes of Newcastle who created a magnificent mansion, park and estate from what was once described as 'a bleak heath full of rabbits'.  The mansion they built was demolished in 1938 and in 1946 the whole estate passed to the National Trust when the dukes family were not able to create enough income from the huge estate.   The National Trust provide public access to the estate grounds and provide many attraction and events during the year. 

Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin

 The history of Worksop is closely tied to the Worksop Manor estate which was once the property of the Dukes of Norfolk, but has now passed to private ownership.  Access is limited to public rights of way. 

The most southerly of the Dukeries estates is Thoresby which was built by the Dukes of Kingston.  The great house was closed for many years before being sold to Warner Leisure Hotels who have done a magnificent job of restoring the fabric of the building and developing additional facilities.  The park is still owned by the dukes descendents and parts of the park are open to the public.  The estate is famous for the Sunday market and the renovated stable block which contains the Pierrepoint Gallery displaying works by Countess Manvers, Marrie - Louise Pierrpoint (1889 - 1984). 

Thoresby Hall

The Duke of Leeds had an estate here too.  Today very little is left of Kiverton Park estate the Duke built.  A ruin of the house is the most noticeable feature and the old estate buildings in Kiverton Park village. 

What do I Like?
Of the Dukeries estates my favourite estates for photography are Clumber and Thoresby.  The two estates provide contrasting environments. Thorsby estate is quite with magnificent views to the house down long  landscaped avenues cut into the forest.  Clumber is a busy working estate providing leisure facilities for people wishing to walk, ride or do what ever the want. 

Walk around Thoresby estate in a morning and you may only meet a few guests from the hall on a morning constitutional walk.  Many of guests will walk by the deer park without noticing they are being watched by the resident deer.  In a morning the deer may graze close to the perimeter fence so you can photograph them with a moderate telephoto lens. Thoresby's lake has been closed for public access for about a year while work is completed to maintain the lake edges.  The edges of the lake in previous years were full of insects, such as damselflies, and heath plants in an undisturbed wilderness.  Unsure what will remain of this wilderness when the lake is reopened to the public.

Thoresby Hall before a storm

  Clumber is very busy at the weekends, school holidays and when events are being held.  But, go early in the morning or late at night and the pleasure grounds around the church and the estate have amazing views that are free from crowds, but can be packed with wild life such as birds, squirrels and insects.  The heath, south of the lake, provides opportunities to see heath plants, animals and birds plus the Longhorn cattle  and Jacobs sheep that help to maintain the heaths ecosystem.  Last year the heath was alive with many different varieties of mushroom and toadstool providing opportunities for macro photography in the late summer.  The ancient trees that have fallen and lay decaying provide a home for Porcelain Fungus (Oudemansiella Mucida).  The pine and birch woodlands provide a home for Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) which was used by witches of old as a fly killer.  Fly Agaric is known to cause hallucinations, violent stomach upsets, uncontrollable muscle spasms and could be fatal so care should be taken.  

Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria)

One of the attraction of Clumber is the walled kitchen garden, maintained by the resident gardeners and volunteers, which is located at the end of Cedar Avenue  near the main car park and the pleasure grounds. A commonly taken photograph is the view up Cedar Avenue and through the gates of the walled garden to the old white framed glasshouse.  The morning light reflecting from the glass provides an extra dimension to this view.   Opportunities for macro images of ancient and rare plants or to photograph  plants being grown in a traditional way  can be taken.  

Weather effects the views in Clumber especially around the lake.  Mist which hangs around the dammed end of the lake, near Hardwick village, provides some exceptional views over the wetland nature reserve, located behind the dam wall, and the river Poulter.  Car parking is available beside the farm for easy access to this end of the lake.   

Mist over the dam wall at Clumber

The recent winter has seen the lake frozen for long periods providing different views as the lake thaws.  Freezing fog in years gone by has turned the trees white and the carved stone seats on the Lincoln Terrence, at the east end of the pleasure grounds, have been white with frost provides another photographic opportunity.

  

Frozen Clumber lake