Image ID: 07944

Rufford Abbey during the demolition of the north wing

Courtesy of R Flint

Rufford Abbey
Rufford
England

During the second world war, Rufford was occupied by military, who it was claimed, caused considerable damage to the fabric of the building. The then owner, Mr Henry Talbot, de Vere Clifton, proposed redeveloping the land for housing and wanted to demolish Rufford altogether. Great concern was expressed locally and early in 1949, after much debate and discussion, an interim order of preservation was obtained by Nottinghamshire county council. Plans for demolition were still going forward when finally, in August 1949 the preservation order was officially confirmed and the building placed under the care of the Ancient Monuments branch of the Ministry of Works (now English Heritage). In the following years attempts to find a new use for the house (such as a corporate or business headquarters) failed. In the early Fifties it was acquired by the county council which continues to manage Rufford, together with the surrounding country park, on behalf of English Heritage to this day. Two large wings - the 17th Century north wing and the 18th Century east wing - had to be demolished in 1956 owing to their being unsafe, but the visitor today is still , able to enjoy the full panoply of the abbey's history from its origins in the 12th Century right through to additions made by its last great owners, the Savile family in the 19th century.

Date: 1956

Organisation Reference: NCCE001750

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