| A
history of Nottinghamshire |
| |
| Farming
landscape |
| The
rolling countryside of Nottinghamshire has been farmed for thousands
of years. Aerial photographs show evidence of field patterns dating
back to pre-Roman times in north Nottinghamshire. |
| |
| Open
fields |
 |
| Laxton
fields |
In the medieval
period most villagers farmed their land on an open-field system.
Each farmer worked scattered "strips" of land among
several large, unhedged fields. At Laxton the fields are still
farmed this way. |
| |
| |
| All
change |
|
Elsewhere
the end of the open system came in the 18th century when fields
were "enclosed" by acts of Parliament. Individual
plots were distributed between farmers. Hedges and farmhouses
began to dominate the countryside.
In modern
times industrial farming has resulted in the loss of many hedgerows
and woodland although conservation bodies are campaigning to
preserve important areas of natural and historic landscape.
|
| |
| Country
houses |
 |
| Wollaton
Hall |
Although many country
houses have vanished from history there are some which survive to
this day. Sir Francis Willoughby used income from land and coal deposits
to build Wollaton
Hall, just outside Nottingham, in the 1580s. |
| Nice
place |
| Several
houses were built following the dissolution (closure) of religious
houses, including Welbeck Abbey, Rufford Abbey and Newstead Abbey,
which became home to the Byron
family. |
| |
| In
Victorian times the eccentric 5th Duke of Portland lived at Welbeck.
He built a network of subterranean rooms, including a chapel and
ballroom. |
| |
 |
| Clumber
Park |
Built in
the 1770s, Clumber was the "seat" of the powerful
Dukes of Newcastle. Although demolished in 1938, the National
Trust now has its regional office in the outbuildings.
A number
of other Victorian houses have also survived, including Kelham
Hall, which is now the offices of Newark and Sherwood District
Council, and Bestwood Lodge, now used as a hotel.
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