Thoresby Cathedral

Warsop Web received an e.mail from Dave Marsh in January 2004 asking if anyone knew of the felling of an avenue of beech trees in Thoresby Park around 1949. Our very own solo 'Time Team' took the challenge and went in search of our local history. Here is his report and if anyone has anything to add, we'd be glad to hear from you!

Dave Marsh asked "who knows" about the impressive grove of Beech trees that were in Thoresby Park until just after WWII. Dave had found that the trees were removed by a firm called Connisborough Woodworking Company and that the actual location of Beech Avenue was off the A614 near to Ollerton roundabout.

Dave needed more information and the possible source of paintings, drawings or photographs. It would seem that at the time there were protests at the felling of the large trees that formed a natural archway along the avenue. The timber was cut at the Rufford saw-mill and mainly used for tool handles. I said I would ask around for pictures. A few days later Dave sent me a small sketch map, showing a track through the forest marked as "Beech Avenue." And I was surprised that it was near to Ollerton.

The manager of Thoresby Estates could not provide any further information and neither could the present head forester.

A visit was made to Ollerton roundabout, armed with O.S. maps. Relating the sketch map to a large-scale map that did not have names of woodland drives, angles and measurements did appear to match. The O.S. map shows a boundary stone near where Beech Avenue would meet the A614 road. I parked my car against a gate and sure enough there was a boundary stone. Looking over the gate there was a definite road through the wood, which appeared to be a mixed planting of deciduous trees, but no sign of Beech.

Another look at the map showed this avenue to be going in the general direction of Thoresby hall. Could this at one time have been the access road? If this had been the road in then it would make sense to plant an impressive grove of trees along the way. Starting the drive near to (or it might have been part of) Ollerton roundabout also had some logic.

Next stop was The Gallery, near Thoresby hall. Unfortunately there were no pictures of Beech trees. However I found a book on sale called "Thoresby Park" and although it does not mention Beech Avenue, it made interesting reading of life in the park over the last three centuries.
I have always thought that Thoresby Hall looked more like a palace and it is really impressive. I did not know that the original hall had been built much nearer the lake and that there had been steamboats on the water. Retired sailors were employed to captain the craft. Thoresby was also known as having one of the finest herds of deer in the country.

The hall was rebuilt after it had been damaged by fire. Then it was decided that living so close to the water was not healthy and so the present building is sited away from the lake. Thoresby was the largest house built during the reign of Queen Victoria with more than enough room for 50 guests and their servants. Seldom was the hall occupied to anywhere near its capacity. Indeed the occupants were often away for several months of each year. Most years they would go away with a few servants in February and not return until August.

The great hall is 65ft by 31ft and is 48ft high. The dining room is 40ft by 26ft and the library is 44ft by 25ft. There is a large drawing room and billiards room.

Since Warners (Entertainments) bought the property it is now a luxury hotel and health spa. At a cost of thousands of pounds, the hall is restored to its former grandeur and glory. Anyone wanting to be wined, dined and generally pampered (who is willing to pay the price) will enjoy and remember a visit to the blue room. It is magnificent. Of course the entertainment in the modern theatre is likewise first class.

Not getting any nearer my quest for pictures of Beech trees, I thought of the author of "Thoresby Park" - C. Alan. Bollans and looked for him in the local telephone directory. The only entry of that surname was at Budby - a lady answered me. Unfortunately Charles Alan Bollans had passed away two years ago and I was talking to his widow. How delightful to find that Mrs Bollans originated from Birkland Avenue, Warsop. Some readers may remember her as Connie Strickland. Connie told me that she remembered Beech Avenue and the locals called it "The Cathedral". She confirmed that we have the correct location but she has no knowledge of any pictures.

Many readers will remember a manager of Welbeck colliery called Charlie Bollans. The author of the book mentioned was his son.

By all accounts the Cathedral of Beech trees must have been very impressive and one would expect it to be a favourite venue for artists and photographers.

Connie later telephoned me to confirm that there is a consensus of opinion that Beech Avenue had indeed been the carriage drive to the first hall, which was sited nearer the lake. It is not difficult to visualise the surprise view one would have been treated to after passing through the virtual tunnel of the Cathedral and looking down upon an expanse of water with steamboats, a deer park near the lake and a palace as a backdrop.

The more I thought of it the more I was convinced that there should be some pictures of the Cathedral and so I went to the Thoresby Estates office. It was not my day because the manager was in Spain and the head forester was in China. No one in the office could suggest anyone I might contact. I took a few photos of the hall with a cloudless sky on the first day of March. Then I called in at the Gallery, where, to my great delight I met Mrs Connie Bollans for the first time. It was a real pleasure to suddenly realise that Connie was as enthusiastic as myself to find a picture of the Cathedral. We chatted about Warsop as well as Thoresby and we agreed that our generation has much to offer and that local history is part of our heritage.

I returned home with thoughts of ending the search for pictures. I would just use the photos I had recently taken. But late in the afternoon I had a telephone call from Connie. "I have found a picture" she told me. I was delighted and arranged to meet at the Gallery the next morning. The book was very old and the monochrome pictures were not of the quality we expect today. However I hope the copy is good enough to show why Beech Avenue was called The Cathedral.

The stately Beeches when they were in their prime. This would be when the locals first started to call Beech Avenue "The Cathedral". By the time the trees were felled just after the end of World War II, it is said that the trunks were as much as 10 ft in diameter.

Footnote: The author of this article made reference to taking the photographs on the first day of March, sadly these were the last he took as he died one month later after a short, sudden illness. I am indebted to him for all the work he put into supplying articles for this website and even more so for being my Dad. I don't know what I'll miss more, listening to the stories of when he was a lad or driving with him down country lanes (where we shouldn't have been) in persuit of a glimpse of our local history. But those memories will keep me smiling! Thank you Dad! - Carol

Article researched and written by the late Charles Barlow

Further Reading
Andy Nicholson - The Great Houses and Families of Nottinghamshire
Andy Nicholson - Nottinghamshire History and Archaeology

If you would like to contribute to the Local History section e.mail Warsop Web carol.hill@btinternet.com

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