Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-01-15
An Underground Riding School.

The London Od1t4 NeaUs, In describing
Welbeck, the home of the late Duke of
Portland, or the "Invisibie Prince" as
he was called, makes the following men
tion of the famous riding school:
"a long trip underground, through a
well.constructed tunnel, lofty, we'll.
lighted, and broad enough to allow at
least three persons to walk abreast, ends
at the new riding school, built by the
late Duke of Portland, to take the place
of the edifice converted to other uses.
The new riding school forms the princi.
pal block of a fairly large village inhab-
tied by the staff of servants employed
about the stables. Built somewhat on
the model of the lodges scattered over
the domain, these dwellings make up a
picturesque scene by their variety, cor.
responding, it may be presumed, to the
position of the servants occupying them.
The riding house is not externally re.
markable, but when the interior is seen
from the head of the tunnel the prospect
is absolutely startling. Some thirty or
forty horses and men are seen trotting
and cantering round an enormous oval
space, suggesting by its size recollections
of the Paris Hippodrome. As the
nostrils cease to be aware of the soft tan
which covers the flooring, the eye
gradually takes in the proportions
Of a gigantic building apparently
constructed of glass and iron.
The exterior walls, however, are Of
stone, the forest of iron columns seen
from the angle at which the tunnel ends
being intended mainly for the support of
the roof. Figures convey very made
quate idea of building as large as q
railway STATEN, but for the sake of exact
ness it may be mentioned that the inte.
1ior of the new riding.school is 379 feet
in length by 166 in width, and so in
height. From the iron columns which
divide the interior, as it were, into a
nave and two aisles, springs semicircu.
lar and highly ornamented iron and
glass roof, extending over the central
compartment, the aisles being rooted
with carved timber work after the style
of that employed in the old riding.
house. The cornice of the principal sec.
tion is handsomely decorated with
wreaths of foliage and groups of birds
and beasts of chase, carved in a spirited
manner and colored, as the heralds have
it, proper" When lit by gas, as on
winter evenings at exercise time, the
effect of the riding.school is felt to be
unlike nything previously experienced
Not far from it are the hunting stables
occupying vast quadrangle, and com
prising all the most modern and perfect
devices for the comfort of their inmates
A little farther on are the coach house
and coach horse stabling and that mark
ed feature of Wtlbeck, the covered "gal
lop," more than thousand feet long
laid with tan and rooted with glass. 1
is perhaps hardly to be wondered at tha
the ge,,ius loci should be that noble ami
NAL the horse, when the memory of th
Cavalier Duke of Newcastle and the &c
called Napoleon of the Turf" the lat
Lord George Bentinck, who was foun'
dead near the "grip" beyond the trees
is still cherished at Welbeck. The Ben
tincks were ever fond of good horse
and portraits of their favorlte animal
are to be seeniin honored places all owe
tho Abbey-as that good animal F]yin
Chi]ders is to be seen at Chatsworth. an
the Marquis of Rockingham stud has
room to itself at Wentworth Woot
! house. The late Duke of Portland
however, did not bet q, farthing, an
! there is q story that, after his brotht
met his mysterious death, he fonn
among his papers5a an / ;Qs ~ for :f80, ,0O'
! which he restored to the debtor, att
3 oxtoxfipR fran him premise that