Tuesday 29 November 2011

Welbeck Stables

On Saturday, we zipped to the craft and food fair at Welbeck. We didn't have enough time to do it justice, so next year we will definately make sure that we spend a full day here. We only managed to pop into Hope and Elvis (which was looking soooooo tidy!!) to book another course and say hi to Louise, Deb and Debs daughter. Hubby remarked that he could tell why I loved it there. We also managed to sample the finest steak and ale stew with duck fat roast potatoes and take home some gorgeous Stichelton cheese.

I had read that the owner of Welbeck was opening one of the very large Stable blocks, so we took the opportunity to have a nosey in.
The stable blocks are truly awesome buildings.
Stepping inside the stables was eerie. It feels like they were stopped being used a long time ago, and nothing has happened with them since.

The textures inside on the walls and floors were interesting.




The estate is riddled with tunnels built by one of the previous earls. I believe that this one was built so that guests could walk from the house to the stables without getting wet. They didn't even have to get wet riding either as the duke built an indoor riding school too.
We marvelled at the wealth that these Dukes and Earls must have had, and the fun they must have had showing off.

12 comments:

Deborah said...

I love it here, popped into the garden centre a couple of weeks ago :) wonder what course you will be doing?

Bee happy x
Have a delicious day!

greenthumb said...

What a life they must have had, great photos.

Diane said...

I find that quite sad, I would have loved to have walked around the stable yard with you, but with horses peering over the doors and that wonderful small that is only around horses. Take care Diane

Marianne said...

Have you read Mick Jackson's book, The Underground Man? It's about the very eccentric Duke of Portland and Welbeck Abbey and I loved it! If you love the place, as I do, it such a fab and relevant read. (PS many apols if you have read it!)sianie

Kathy said...

Those stables look huge! The tunnels sound interesting! They thought of everything, didn't they?
xxx

Rosie said...

Those empty stables do look very atmospheric - I bet they were very busy, noisy and smelly when they were in use:)

DeniseinVA said...

What a fabulous place. Thank you so much for the great tour.

Elderberry-Rob said...

I love old buildings like this - wouldn't it be great to visit at night and do those tunnels by candlelight!

diane b said...

What is it used for now? The stables looked like something out of an old film and the texture shots are great.

Lisa said...

The money they had must have had must been such an amazing amount to have considered building such a thing as the tunnel network, an underground folly for sure. Love all the photos of the different textures.
Lisa x

Anonymous said...

Just wondering if anybody knows if Hannah wright still works as a horse groom at the stables? Any info would be much appreciated I'm an old freind, thankyou.

Unknown said...

Hi 'anonymous', sorry, I'm nearly a year late! I no longer work there but I am still alive :) drop me an email on bluehaven97@live.co.uk

Beautiful photographs that make me very homesick :) thanks for posting them.