| Admin History | The leasehold of Bestwood Park estate was granted by King Charles II to his mistress, Nell Gwynne, in 1681. The freehold was later conveyed to her by his brother James II and passed into the hands of her son Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St Albans, on her death in 1687. The estate passed down through successive generations of the Beauclerk family, Dukes of St Albans, and was held by them throughout the period covered by this collection.
The Pickworth estate formed part of the Beauclerk property at Redbourne, Lincolnshire, acquired by William Beauclerk, 8th Duke (1766-1822) through marriage to Charlotte, heiress to Sir John Nelthorpe, 5th Baronet.
The estates were managed by John Parkinson, agent from 1831 to 1839 to William Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St Albans. The bulk of the collection comprises his administrative papers. |
| Custodial History | The collection was given to the Library in 1935. |
| FindingAids | Copyright in all Finding Aids belongs to the University of Nottingham.
In the Reading Room, King's Meadow Campus:
Typescript Catalogue, 9 pp
At the National Register of Archives, The National Archives, Kew:
Typescript Catalogue, 9 pp
Online:
Catalogue accessible from the website of Manuscripts and Special Collections, Manuscripts Online Catalogue |