The History of Newstead Abbey

Contrary to its current name, Newstead was never actually an abbey: it was a priory.

It was built during the 12th Century and even today, some of the original medieval characteristics of the building remain.

It is truly an amazing place to visit with 800 years of history to behold.

In the late 13th century, the priory was rebuilt and extended. It was extended again in the 15th-century, when the Dorter, Great Hall and Prior’s Lodgings were added.

The priory was designed to be home to at least 13 monks, although there appears to have been only 12 (including the Prior) at the time of the dissolution.

During the 19th Century, Newstead Abbey was the home to the famous poet Lord Byron. In 1818, he sold the house and grounds and during the Victorian era, other families resided here.

There is so much history associated with Newstead Abbey and we would love you to join us to discover more about the people who once lived here…

The Tolkien Connection

There can be little doubt that Gedling Station is a building of significant social and historic interest nationally as it represents an important period of Britain’s industrial growth and development. Even more significant is its importance locally with its close connections to the local coal mining industry and pit communities.

Its greatest claim to fame, however, is a world famous literary connection as it is at Gedling Station that J.R.R Tolkien is thought to have alighted his train from Nottingham when visiting his aunt (Jane Neave) who lived at nearby Phoenix Farm. On one such occasion, in September of 1914, he stayed at Phoenix Farm where he wrote the poem The Voyage of Éarendel the Evening Star his first ‘middle-earth’ fragment. And the rest as they say ‘is history’.

Part of the Railway unstable! 

As with most railways, Gedling station was not without incident. From Gedling and Carlton, the line climbed through Mapperley Tunnel,

Mapperley Tunnel was extremely unstable due to mining subsidence and the heavy traffic through it. In 1925 the line was closed prematurely due to part of a roof collapse, blocking the line causing much disruption