Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-01-11
Welheck Abbey.

Welbeck Abbey, the Duke of Portlaud's
home, England, will always be famed for
Its underground passages, which extend
fr miles, ard for its subterranean apart
ments, including spacious ballroom and
suites of rooms in the bosom of the earth.
The most striking feature in the buildings
above ground is the large Gothic hall, re-
stored in 1851 by the Countess of Oxford;
and the visitor cannot fail TO be delighted
with the FAM like tracery of the ceiling, the
elaborate designs and tine splendid decora-
tons. in the early part of bis career The
late Duke, (ihe Duke of Portland devot-
ed himself srdently to the cultivation of
art. and the hundreds of paintings which
adorn the walls Of the abbey testify to the
good taste he must have possessed. la the
great dining room there are evidences of
his ingenious contrIvances for minimizing
labor. A hydraulic shaft was constructed
between the great dining room and the
kitchen, and by means of this shaft wagons
could be raised from or lowered 10 the un-
derground passages. Rails were laid Id
the passage along which the wagons ran
to and from a cupboard, which was aIsD a
stove, where food could be kept hot until
required TO be hoistei TO the dining -room
Extending in all directions from the
abbey are those lofty and spacious passa-
ges which have been for so long the wonder
and admiration of the privileged visitor
They are brilliantly lighted by means of
costly Apparatus for attracting the sunlight,
and where sunlight cannot be admitted by
gts-hghts. The celebrated riding school,
the like of which is not to be found in the
world, is reached through one or two un-
derground passages. Entrance is .alned
by trap door. which is opened by curl
oCsly designed crank ih the passage. The
building was used for the purposes of q
riding school in the Duke OF Newcastle's
time, but has since been converted into
magnificent museum OF art $50 feet in
length. Large numbers of pictures are ar
ranged in the gallery, and on the oak floor
are thousands OF rare and valuable books.
ancient and modern. The gallery Is hight
ed by means of four chandeliers, each
weighing ton. suspended from the roof.
There ale upwards of 1000 gas-jets, and
when all are illuminated the effect must
be brilliant in the extreme. Mirrors adorn
the walls, and the ceiling of the gallery is
beautifully decorated with design repre-
sh1- ut W,
as well as the picture gallery, is under
ground, and is the result of many years
labor. 1t is 230 feet in length, and divided
into five chambers, which are so construct
ed as 10 form when desirable one very
large chamber or hall.
Another immense and superbly construc-
ted apartment was CONNIE need seven wears
ago, but not completed before the late
Dukes death. 1t is reached by spiral
staircase al one end and 9y subteiranean
passage at the other end. 1t was supposed
al one time that il was intended for a
church, but there Is nothing ecclesiastical |
about its appearance. 1t looks more like |
a ballroom, and what a magnificent ball |
room il would make Its Oaken floor is a |
wonderful piece of work, so close and fine |
is it. The deer tItof the wood has been |
obtained by res Aar washing with rare old !
Welbeck ale. The roof Is supported by
eight iron girders, each Of which weighs |
"a tons BY day illumination is obtained !
by 27 Octagonal lights and at night from
magnificent crystal chandeliers, each |
weighing ton. Ihe room, which covers
a rood of ground, has been dug out of the /
solid clay. 1t is now used as a picture |
gallery, end on the walls are 100 grand |
works by Snyders. R-faelle. Vandyck,
Rembrandt, Rubens, Hclbeln, Sir Joshua
Reynolds, WOuverlnans, and others There
are many other underground chambers,
ard all Of them have been excayaled al |
great cost. They are magmfcently deco
rated, admirably lighted, and are free |
from draughts. Altogether there are |
many miles of subteranean passages, al |
of which are pleasant to walk in and wide |
enough 10 allow of three persons walking
abreast. One of the long passages was
exclusively used by the late Duke himself, |
and the stranger iodnd in it was deemed /
guilty OF grave offence. Another extra
ordinary work Was commenced by the late |
Duke. and remains unfinished. He spoke
Of il as '',he bachelors hall" 1t occupies |
an acre OF ground, and Is reached by d |
stone staircase. The inclosure is waller |
in with Roman cement mixed with sand. |
On these walls and excavations $50, 900 |
has already been spent. The place would |
make splendid Winter garden, but it il |
not yet known what the present Duke will
do With it.