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Clumber park contains about 4,000 acres, 87 of which, being covered with water, constitute the Lake. This was begun in 1774, and finished in 1789, at a total cost of £6,612 8s. 9d. The house, which was built about 1770, occupies a central position on the north side of the lake, has been said to "embrace more magnificence and comfort than any other nobleman’s seat in England." It is certainly not so large as many others, but the taste displayed in and about this mansion is of a very high order: it may be said to be a second Chatsworth.
The house consists of three fronts, and in the centre of that which faces the lake there is a very light Ionic colonnade, surmounted by the ducal arms, which has a very pleasing effect. The south front is ornamented with four niches, containing four beautiful white marble statues, emblematical of the four seasons; the angles of the house are surmounted with sixteen fine vases. The terrace, which extends to the lake, is connected with the latter by two flights of steps. It is in the Italian style, and the vases and figures are arranged in a very effective manner. The very fine white marble fountain in the centre came from Italy. The lower or large basin is twelve feet six inches in diameter; above this is a smaller basin, four feet in diameter, supported by four dolphins; from the top of this basin a fountain throws up its crystal sprays, and has a very beautiful effect. The block of marble from which this basin was made weighed fifty tons when got from the quarry. The terrace is beautifully laid out with ornamental flower beds, and the flowers with which they and the colonnade are decorated are very choice and beautiful. From the terrace there is a delightful walk for upwards of a quarter of a mile on the side of the lake. It is tastefully kept, and embraces a great variety of scenery. The cedars of Lebanon, the yew, the Canadian pine, and silver fir trees are colossal and beautiful. On the lake are two fine vessels, one named the "Salamanca," and the other, of forty tons burden, is called the "Lincoln." The kitchen gardens are situated to the north east at some distance from the mansion, and extend over six or seven acres of ground, with about eighteen hot and other houses.
The chapel, which is a new and beautiful feature at Clumber, though still unfinished, is designed in the French-Gothic style of the earlier period [Messrs. T. C. Hine and Son, of Nottingham, were the architects]. It consists of a nave 55 feet by 29 feet; a chancel, with semi-circular apsidal termination, 32 feet by 17 feet; an organ chamber, and sacristy; the former being in the north side of the same, and the latter on the south side, and separated therefrom by columns and arches. This eastern portion of the chapel is divided from the nave by an arcade also supported by columns, the centre opening being considerably higher and wider than the side ones. The intermediate spaces will be filled by open screens of foliated metal work.
The masonry throughout, both externally and internally, is of wrought Steetley stone, interspersed with red Alton stone in the window shafts. The internal shafts of the chancel windows and the whole of the columns are of Devonshire marble, and the walls in immediate connection therewith are faced with polished alabaster. The lower part of the nave walls, as well as the floors, will be covered with encaustic tiles. The reredos, sedelia, and credence tables are to be of alabaster and marble, and richly carved and decorated. The roofs are of high pitch, covered internally with a panelled wagon headed ceiling of pine and cedar. A bell turret 84 feet high, with square base, octangular campanile and spire, forms a prominent feature at the junction of the nave and sacristy, and the exterior generally, with its broken outline coloured tile roof, arcaded walls, and canopied buttresses, adorned with statues, stands out in bold and picturesque relief from the magnificent trees in the background.
The Chancel will be fitted up with a richly dressed altar table and carved oak stalls, and the nave furnished with oak chairs. The windows throughout will be filled with richly stained glass, and the walls will have panelled recesses and suitable frames for the reception of some of the choicest works of sacred art which now adorn the ducal mansion.
In the house the State Dining Room is a magnificent apartment. The rich gilding of the cornices, the white and gold Corinthian columns and capitals, contrasting with the light blue ground of the walls, and with the satin curtains of the same hue, the chaste pure white marble chimney piece, and the steel grate, profusely engraved, are exceedingly elegant. This room contains seven paintings, which have been valued at £25,000.
The visitor will be shown into the small Breakfast Room, on the left of the principal entrance, the walls of which are covered with choice paintings.
The Entrance Hall is supported by pillars, and contains many gems of art, foremost of which is a colossal statue of Napoleon, which has incorrectly been attributed to Canova; it is by Emanuelle Franzoni. The then Duke of Newcastle purchased this noble work of art about 1823 of Mr. Thomas Robson, who imported it from Carrara. The price his Grace paid for it was £262, whilst the marble alone, when in the rough block, was worth £400.
The original was by Chaudet, and was destroyed in Paris at the restoration of Louis XVIII.; at any rate, it has never been seen since.
From the cast of the original there were three copies made, one was sent to Venice, and was said to be destroyed there; another stood in the grand square at Lucca with the features of Napoleon defaced, and replaced by those of the Duke of Lucca (Felix Bacciochi), a worthless character, who married Marie Anne Eliza, eldest sister of Napoleon, who was born in 1777, and died Queen of Etruria in 1820). The features of Napoleon, however, are still traceable.
It is beyond question that the only representation remaining of Chaudet’s great work is the statue at Clumber. It is an invaluable work, historically and artistically. Chaudet was a great sculptor, and Emanuelle Franzoni was probably not inferior to him. He was a celebrity in Carrara, and executed this statue for Napoleon’s sister, the Queen of Etruria.
It must be observed that the two copies, Venetian and Lucchese, alluded to, were done in ordinary marble, or what is misnamed "Sicilian," whilst Chaudet’s original was carved in statuary marble. The Duke of Newcastle’s is in pure statuary marble also, and is highly finished.
There is also a fine statue of Thomson, author of "The Seasons," and one of Paris, the son of Priam, King of Troy; a fine bust of Oliver Cromwell; also a bust of the Duke of Newcastle, by Nollekens; a statuette of Shakspeare, by Sheemakers; a basso relievo of a Boy and Dolphin, by Verchaffer; and several antique busts and vases. A very magnificent case of Colonial Birds is also worthy of special mention.