The Harley Gallery
Welbeck Estate
Worksop
Nottinghamshire, UK
January 17th 2026 — 4th May 2026
Privately owned and carefully preserved, the Welbeck Estate is a living testament to the English aristocratic legacy. Welbeck is one of the great historic country estates, set within 15,000 acres of forest and rolling hills in North Nottinghamshire. In the heart of the estate is Welbeck Abbey, founded as a monastery in 1153. After the Dissolution, the Abbey was bought by Bess of Hardwick’s youngest son, Sir Charles Cavendish. It descended through the family and became the country seat to a succession of Dukes of Portland. The estate’s ownership has remained in the hands of the Portland family and their descendants, ensuring continuity and stewardship that have allowed Welbeck’s traditions and character to endure even as the world beyond its boundaries has changed.
The Harley Foundation is a charity which was set up in 1978 by Ivy, Duchess of Portland, funding two public gallery spaces. The Harley Foundation hosts numerous cultural events, open days, and exhibitions that invite the public to experience the estate’s rich heritage. The Harley Gallery shows work from leading contemporary artist, while The Portland Museum exhibits the Portland family’s world-class art collection, created over time by the Dukes of Portland and their families, who have owned Welbeck Estate since 1607. The Portland Collection features artworks by Van Dyck, Michelangelo, Marcus Gheerhaets, and Brueghel the Elder.
For her exhibition, Bread and Roses-Welbeck’s Untold Stories at The Harley Gallery, Jennifer Vanderpool explores the history of coal mining at Welbeck and the impact on local communities following the closure of the mines. Floor to ceiling installation of imaginary realism artworks span the three galleries of The Harley. These materials were drawn together into detailed collages that combine archival imagery from Welbeck Abbey, the coal mining industry, and the social and cultural life it supported.
Vanderpool also integrated her video interviews with former miners, members of the mining community, Welbeck residents, and staff, alongside objects such as helmets, lamps, and boots have been loaned from local mining museums, including Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum, Nottinghamshire Mining Museum and Pleasley Pit Trust.
Jennifer Vanderpool’s Untold Stories project continues at Wentworth Woodhouse, Rotherham, with an exhibition exploring the effects of the loss of steelmaking from 27 January to 28 June 2026.
Bread and Roses- Welbeck’s Untold Stories included six interviews conducted at The Welbeck Estate by Jennifer Vanderpool with Robin Brown, Derek Adlam, Jason Williams, Samantha Perks, Dorinda Perkins, Julie and Ian Bayliss, and Tony Crofts. These interviews delved into the Estate’s roles with coal mining, restoration, and relationships with the community as well as personal stories of the interviewees who live on or near the Estate Village.
