Newstead Abbey, the Family Seat of the Byrons.

The celebrity which Lord Byron has acquired, from the variety, as well as the acknowledged genius of many of his writings, rendering it probable that of contemporary poets he at least will always rank among the standard authors of the country, Newstead merits a place in our exhibition of the houses connected with British genius. After being the mansion of the family for several generations, it is said to have been recently alienated by the present lord, whose passion for adventure has led him to prefer for his residence the eastern parts of Europe to his own country. Newstead is an object of interest, as connected with a distinguished naval family, and from its own picturesque character, independently of the living peer; and has always been ranked among the curiosities of Nottinghamshire.—In the thirty-second year of his reign, King Henry the Eighth, by letters patent, granted to his favourite, Sir John Byron, knight, and to his heirs, the priory of Newstede, with the manor and rectory of Papplewyke, and all the closes about the priory in the commons of Ravenshede and Kygell in the forest, Newstede, Papplewyke, Lindebye, Bullwell, &c.; the last of which was soon afterwards emparked, and ornamented with a neat house; and, at the present time, for variety and taste in the internal decorations of the house, and for richness and diversity in the surrounding scenery, Newstead is not to be surpassed, and hardly equalled.

Yale Center for British Art, 2017