A new booklet has been launched to showcase the rich royal history of Bestwood Country Park.
The publication, which has been produced by Friends of Bestwood Country Park and Nottingham County Council, takes the form of a timeline and charts key milestones in the park’s history from 6,000BC to the present day.
Bestwood Country Park once played host to a royal hunting lodge and attracted many key figures from British history, who all feature in the timeline: Edward III went hunting here and Richard III was in residence when he was given the news that Henry Tudor was approaching with his army.
Charles II and his mistress Nell Gwyn also often enjoyed visits to Bestwood, where they lived a simple woodland life, free from the prying eyes of the court. Charles II eventually handed over ownership of Bestwood Lodge and park to his mistress as a gift.
Because of her long association with the park, a direct descendant of Gwyn was asked to contribute to the new booklet. Charles Beauclerk, who is also son of the 14th Duke of St Albans, has produced his own personal timeline and it has been included in the new publication.
Councillor John Knight, Committee Chairman for Culture at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “This new timeline booklet highlights many of the fascinating periods of Bestwood’s history and will be a valuable resource. The country park enjoys as colourful a history as our two other famous country parks in Nottinghamshire – Sherwood Forest and Rufford Abbey.
“We are always keen to learn more about and promote Bestwood’s fascinating history and we are very pleased to be working with Charles Beauclerk, one of Nell Gwyn’s direct descendants, and the Friends group on this project.”
The booklet is now available in the Dynamo House Community Café, which is run jointly by volunteers from the Friends and Bestwood Village WI. The Cafe is open from 10am – 1pm every Saturday.
