About The Bestwood Lodge HotelThe Story of an Estate - Page 5
Charles II (1660-1685) soon after the restoration, seemed to single out Bestwood for his particular interest and pleasure.
Free licence was given to the Keeper to destroy conies, plough and cultivate any parts that he thought advisable with complete immunity of any impeachment of Forest Laws. This was done in order that he might make a pleasant and profitable estate for ‘our Royal disport’. A few months later came specific orders to repair the fencing and the buck-leap and make suitable enclosures for the breeding and keeping of horses for the King’s own use. Timber for this project was to come from Bestwood grant and involving his assistance in every way.
It would seem fact that Mistress Nell Gwynn visited the Lodge often with the King, though it is only legend that may be quoted over the manner in which she gained the Estate.
Most historians seem to agree that Nell Gwynn was not a greedy and self-seeking woman and wanted no more than an adequate means of living and bringing up her two sons by Charles II. The story is still told that Nell, after a hard day’s hunting, when the talk after dinner turned to early rising, was being teased about the lateness of the time that she always arrived at the Lodge for breakfast. Nell it is believed was staying at the Old Guide House at the foot of Redhill (demolished in 1979). The King offered her all the land she was able to ride around before breakfast the next morning. Nell, having so often in her early days had to live by her wits, would have found this irresistible. Very early, next morning, she rode in a rough circle, south to Basford then Bulwell, on north to Papplewick, to the Halfway houses on Mansfield Road and back, leaving Arnold on her left. They say that she dropped a handkerchief every few miles to mark her ride and arrived, flushed and triumphant for breakfast at Bestwood Lodge. The King, easily amused, gave Nell the ownership of Bestwood and the ‘firewood rights’ which she used as pocket money, but the King failed to make the gift secure by redemption of the Mortgage.
During the latter years of his reign, when the King’s health was too bad to allow him to hunt, Nell raised some badly needed money by leasing portions of the Park to neighbouring yeomen for agricultural purposes. Thus we find from the records in the British Museum, one lease in 1681 between ‘Lady Eleanor Gymnne of the Parish of St Martyne of the Fields’ and Thomas Gibson, William Maltby, George Russell, Joseph Wood, John Bradley, Jonathan Sturtivant, William Beardsley and Richard Tole, all of Arnold, renting certain portions of the Park for the term of nine years at the yearly rent of £34. 1s, 8d – to be paid at the Lady Day and at Michaelmas Day “at the Mansion House in Bestwood Park called Bestwood Lodge”.
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I celebrated my engagement and birthday with 9 of us having a meal at your restaurant. The carvery was lovely all the food was fresh and very tasty. We all had a brilliant time. Thank you and a big thank you to your restaurant staff.
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