Three Gables, The Woodyard, Thoresby Park.

 

Above: painting by Leslie A Miles (1943) depicts Three Gables, Thoresby Park, as it was when Clerk of Works Noel Whitworth lived there 1940 – 50. My thanks to James Whitworth for consenting to its use on this blog.

Above: Three Gables, Thoresby Park, 1964. The kitchen extension is on the left.

Three Gables, built in 1876, is situated by the road side at the Woodyard, and was the customary residence of the estates’ Clerk of Works, such as Noel Whitworth in the late 1940s / early 1950s. A three bedroom house, one to each gable, the original kitchen was situated beneath the left gable before an extension with corrugated roof and plastic skylight was added. The original stone framed outside window was retained inside the extension. The former kitchen then became the central living room, but kept its cast iron range for cooking. The range incorporated a small circular platform which would swing across over an open log fire to heat one's kettle. A drying wrack hung from the ceiling for the laundry, which could be boiled in the copper stove in the outhouse across the yard to the left of the building. This copper stove was fundamental in the making of family Christmas puddings in the 1950's / early 1960s. The house was joined onto the Woodyard complex. In the very narrow, dark and dusty store next door were kept the shiny brass fittings for coffins, whilst a hand operated fire bell hung on the wall outside.

Following the departure of Noel Whitworth the house was occupied for much of the 1950's and early 1960's by William "Jock" Craig, the Woodyard foreman.

Above: A corner of the lounge, schoolboy sketch, 1963. Note the portable record player of the time.

In the early 1960s the property still featured an extensive garden laid out according to Victorian tradition; decorative flowers and lawns in front of the house, with vegetable patches and fruit bushes all formally arranged to the right alongside the Woodyard buildings.

Above: c. 1960. The Victorian style garden. The near window is the lounge. The far window is the office of the Clerk of Works. Beyond is the Pleasure Grounds. Below: A family at home.

Above: 1985.

Above: 2019. The garden and its iron fencing have gone.