Out and about - Fairtrade for Bassetlaw spreads the word

4 www.bassetlaw.gov.ukWelbeck project, meetingthe demands of the futureThe Welbeck Estate where the ambitious Welbeck Project is helping to create a sustainable thriving communityWelcome to the first of a series of articlesabout the amazing work taking place atWelbeck to provide Bassetlaw with newopportunities for people to work, create and innovate.In 1882 Leonard Jack in his book ‘The Great Houses ofNottinghamshire’ wrote: ‘Welbeck is at once extraordinaryand magnificent. A quarter of a mile away from the housethere is the perpetual buzz of machinery, and a vastspace of ground covered with sheds, in which the newestmechanical inventions are in constant use’.Today, Welbeck is continuing with its tradition ofinnovation with an ambitious project that began in 2007to create a sustainable thriving community. Buildingsthat once housed horses, carriages, fire engines, cows andeven chickens are being transformed into buildings thatcan support rural-focused businesses, digital and creativeindustries, educational opportunities and creative arts.Known as the ‘Four Pillars of Welbeck’ this mixed use ofactivities will play an essential part in supporting economicregeneration within the community of Bassetlaw. Froma large publishing house to growing businesses, includinga garden centre, bakers, butchers, web designers, writers,actors, artists and students, the excellent facilities willinclude buildings that are designed to fit the owner’spurpose.This summer the stunning Carriage Court will open itsdoors to provide, over 9,000 square feet of office space.Once home to exquisite carriages it will now becomehome for either single occupancy or for individual officesuites. Sympathetically restored with everything you needto conduct your business including the essential highspeedbroadband access.Robin Brown, managing director of the Welbeck Estatescompany, said, “The Welbeck project has been set up toencourage diversification of the rural economy and tocreate new educational and employment opportunities.Part of the project will see 19th century heritage propertytransformed into 21st century cutting edge office space”.Welbeck is already home to some fantastic initiatives, suchas the Harley Gallery and accompanying artist studiosfor 30 artists and makers, the Welbeck Farm Shop whichopens daily and supports the community by selling localproduce, to the more recently formed School of ArtisanFood. This School shares its premises with an artisanbakery in the premises of the old fire station and exists toteach all aspects of artisan food production.In the next edition of Bassetlaw News we’ll be talking toGareth Kennedy, Director at the School of Artisan Food,and will introduce you to some of the students too.In the meantime if you are interested in renting someoffice space in this stunning location or just want to findout more about the Welbeck project in general please visittheir website: http://www.welbeckproject.com/ or contactthem by Email: enquiries@welbeckproject.comCompetition:Win a £10 voucherHow many chandeliers didthe underground ballroomonce have?Please send your answers along with your name,address and telephone number to: The Editor,Bassetlaw News, Bassetlaw District Council,Queen’s Buildings, Potter Street, Worksop,Notts S80 2AH or Email: editor.bassetlawnewsbassetlaw.gov.uk.The first answer drawn will receive a£10 voucher.The Workman’s friendWelbeck Abbey was founded as a religioushouse in 1140. It then became home tovarious owners until the 18th century,when the house passed through an heiress into theBentinck family and became the main seat of theEarls and Dukes of Portland.In the 1800’s the 5th Duke, who became Duke ofPortland in 1854, had several underground tunnels androoms built, with the tunnels reputed to have totalledseveral miles connecting various underground chambersand above-ground buildings. One tunnel is over onethousand yards long, leading from the house to the ridingschool and wide enough for several people to walk side byside. There is also a 53 metre long underground ballroom.Due to these substantial building projects, approximately15,000 men: masons, bricklayers, joiners and plumberswere employed on the estate, earning the 5th Duke thenickname of ‘the workman’s friend’. This work provided aliving for many of the locals and apparently new workerswere provided with a suit of clothes, a top hat, an umbrellaand a donkey!Today remaining stretches of a tunnel survive on eitherside of the nearby lake. The sites of skylights can be seenfrom the Robin Hood Way footpath which follows thecourse of the tunnel, and a masonry tunnel entrance canbe seen between two lodges at the north eastern limitof the park.After the Second World War, Welbeck was leased by theDukes of Portland to the Ministry of Defence and wasused as an army training college, Welbeck College, until2005. Today the Abbey is home to William (grandson ofthe 7th Duke of Portland) and Alison Parente.