About The Bestwood Lodge HotelThe Story of an Estate - Page 10
The End of an Era
In 1898 the tenth Duke died whilst on a visit to Sir Charles Seemly in the Isle of Wight. He was brought back to the old Daybrook station, which was draped in black, from where he was escorted by a squadron of Cavalry. The cortege moved slowly through the lanes of weeping villagers to lie in Bestwood Church and later he was placed beside his wife in the St Albans Vault. His popularity was seen in the mourners that filled the Church and flowed in the Church yard and along the private oath from the house. People from all parts of Britain mourned this kindly Duke.
Balls and shooting parties again influenced the village life, but never again with any of the previous brilliance. Bestwood’s golden period was buried with the Duke and as the years passed, the farm labourers, craftsmen and the gardeners moved out to industrial work in the town and the mining village esxpanded.
The 11 th Duke was away a great deal so the estate was leased to two Nottingham industrialists – Sir Thomas Birkin (Lace Manufacturer) and Sir Harold Bowden (The Raleigh Cycle Company). The 11 th Duke died in 1934 and was succeeded by Osbourne de Vere and then the decision was taken to sell the Estate mainly because of the crippling death duties.
When in 1939 the Lodge and Estate was put up for sale its description was as follows:
“Fine hall, 3 Reception rooms: Ballroom, Billiards Room, Conservatory, Gun Rook, 19 Principal Bedrooms and Dressing Rooms, 17 Secondary and Servants Bedrooms, 9 Bathrooms, a Central Hall which is 32x21’ and to the right is the Drawing Room, facing south and east 20x58’. East is the Dining Room 36x21’. South Wing is the Ballroom 57x27’ opening to heated Conservatory.
The farms listed in the sale catalogue were; Bottom House, Top House, Sun Rise, Cherry Orchard, Broad Valley Farm, West House, 100-Acre Farm and Goosedale. At the sale, some farmers became owners, others remained tenants whilst a large slice of the Estate on the southern side was bought by Nottingham Corporation. Almost immediately the Lodge and grounds were requisitioned for Army use until the ends of the War when it was purchased as a headquarters of the Northern Command.
People form all parts of the country visited Eastwood during the war and it might be of interest that many of the survivors of Dunkirk were hurriedly brought to Bestwood and billeted in tents, before re-organisation into their respective units, many in a shocked and nervous condition and desperately tired. It was good to think that the beautiful gardens and trees brought them healing and peace.
The Lodge, after the war, became East Midlands District army Headquarters and the Army built a mini housing estate and brought a lot of families to Bestwood. Officers like Lt. Col Clive Egleton, Col. Gordon Dewar, Col. SH Clark and Maj. Stanley Reed – made their homes at Bestwood during their Army service and came to love the old house and Estate. An open day/sports event was held most years and the Army put on a very good show for the locals.
When the Estate was sold, Nottingham Corporation bought six farms on the south side and a housing estate was being built when war broke out. The names of these farms are now forever incorporated in the names of the roads and avenues – Cherry Orchard, Sunrise, Southglade and Top Valley.
Arnold Urban District Council, as it was known before the Local Government reorganisation in 1974 purchased more land on the South East in the pastures surrounding The White Hart Inn (harvester Public House). Some of the hereditary titles of the Duke of St Albans have been perpetuated in the Street and Road names; we have Falconer’s Walk, Hanworth gardens, Heddington Gardens, St Albans Road and Burford Street. The Public Houses built within the Estate were called, of course, Charles II, Nell Gwynn and the Royal Hunt and now the Duke of St Albans. The Southglade Farm, which Mr Gervais Goddard had rented from the Duke of St Albans, was made into a Park with a miniature Golf Course, Bowling Greens and Tennis Courts, etc. Now thousands of people live where once the chosen few - Kings and the Courtiers resided.
Recently the Lodge and surrounding land was purchased by Gedling Borough Council, so the gardens and wood that surround the Lodge will always now belong to the people of Gedling Borough. The ‘Big House’ will continue to flourish as a Hotel, Conference and Banqueting Suite and meeting place for the inhabitants of Bestwood and surrounding areas.
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Hi,
Really enjoyed my stay here. Will be visiting again soon. Service and quality comparable with what I have received at savoy hotel london!
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