The School of Artisan Food would like to thank the Estate for their encouragement and support

The Welbeck Estate lies in extensive parkland in the area of North Nottinghamshire known as the Dukeries, so called because it used to contain five ducal residences in proximity to one another.

Welbeck Abbey, at the Estate’s heart, was founded as a religious house in 1140. Successive generations of owners have changed, extended and embellished this great house. Bess of Hardwick’s third son lived there in the late 16th century, as did the famous cavalier William Cavendish (the ‘Loyal’ Duke of Newcastle) and his literary Duchess Margaret at the time of the Civil War. Hans Willem Bentinck, William of Orange’s right-hand man, was created earl of Portland and married Anne Villiers in 1678. In 1734 the 2nd Duke of Portland married Lady Margaret Cavendish Holles Harley. The Abbey has remained in the ownership of the Cavendish Bentinck family until the present day.

Welbeck College, the Defence 6th Form College, occupied part of the Abbey and many outbuildings from 1953 to 2005. The Abbey is once again privately occupied by the family and the surrounding Estate is home to a vibrant community that includes residential properties, a working mixed home farm with managed woodlands, artist’s and maker’s workshops, the Harley Gallery, the Welbeck Farm Shop, the Limehouse Café, Stitchelton Dairy and The Welbeck Bakehouse.

A wide range of creative industries and arts are planned for this very special place.