Thoresby Hall interior as it once was.

 

Above: The entrance hall.

In its heyday as a stately home, open to the public, Thoresby Hall's visitors would be greeted by the amazing spectacle of this perfectly preserved Victorian Great Hall, with treasures too many to mention. Sadly, when Lady Manvers died in 1984, the Hall had already been the property of the National Coal board for 4 years, in accordance  with their possible intent to open a new mining vein beneath the Estate, and no doubt to minimize problems already caused by subsidence. Thoresby subsequently went through the hands of more than one speculator and much of what you see in these photographs was auctioned away.

Above: As long ago as 1907 the schoolchildren of Thoresby Estate would be invited to a Christmas Party at the Hall involving a meal, entertainment, and a gift. These parties were still a great treat in the 1950s and early 60s. The gifts dispensed at the end of the evening in the Great Hall, often had a distinct Robin Hood theme because they were mostly items that had been in the tourist's gift shop during the summer season!

 

Above: The magnificent Blue Drawing Room off the south west corner of the great hall, and deriving its name from the silk on the walls.

Above: One of Thoresby Hall's most popular attractions was always the carved oak fireplace in the library. This became erroneously credited to Richard J. Tuddesbury of Edwinstowe, who did indeed produce skilled carvings elsewhere for the interior. However, it was actually produced by Gerrard Robinson of Newcastle, where a newspaper reporter had witnessed its progress in his workshop. In 1869 Robinson was using a picture of this masterpiece as his trade card.

As a child, it would greatly amuse my family that certain items of this furniture had often been in our house at the Woodyard, where my father, the foreman at the Woodyard, effected their repair! Readers may also be amused to know that the firewood produced at the Woodyard for Lady Manvers, had to be cut to very exacting specifications. Only "billet wood", 9 inches (23 cm) long, 3 inches (8 cm) diameter, and free from all knots, was acceptable for her bedroom, sitting room, and dining room!

Above: The Small Drawing Room. Below: The State Dining Room.

Above: The Victoria Bedroom. Below: The Spare Bedroom.

Above: The Library.

Note: All photographs are taken from past visitor brochures. The coloured items are dated 1979. The black and white items are from the 1960s. The majority of the rooms depicted are no long accessible today and their contents auctioned away. Both the Library and the Blue Drawing Room have been available for use by hotel visitors taking afternoon tea during the 2000s. Intended visitors should check with the hotel if wanting to confirm such services are still available.