GREAT FETE BENEATH THE EARTH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12253, 2 June 1914, Page 8

GREAT FETE BENEATH THE EARTH.

Society flocked to Welbeek Abbey, where'tiie'Duke and Duchess of Porthind "entertained 100 guests to celebrate the coming of age of their eldest son and heir,' the Marquis of Tichfield, on the 16th April.

Welbeek Abbey with its vast "underground apartments is one of the wonders of Knk]and. The fifth Duke had a passion for privacy, and from the time of liis succession to the title to his'death he spent £7,000.000 on the abbey. The -vast, subterranean galleries and oh am b'ors on the night of a. ball are like fairyland, notably the subterranean picture gallery. IfiO toy 0-1 feet, lighted toy twelve Inline glass chandaliers which cover the walls. ■

From'the entrance to the park there is a broad underground drive of a mile and a-ha.lf to the abbey, whence tunnel-; run in all directions for a total length of eleven miles. The huge tuulerground chambers include a riding school, where •Joseph Chamberlain once addressed an audience of -3000 persons. There is also a "tan gallop" of a quarter of a- mile which is .said to bo the finest indoor exercise ground for horses in the world. Underground' also, a rose, corridor 150 yards long is arranged as a "sitting out" room. All the corridors are hung with tapestries. The underground apartments, which are. usually used as storerooms, are richly decorated and well heated, and ran be used as smoking-rooms. There arc" three underground rooms adjoining the picture gallery, where, dancing is usually held, but tliey can be converted into slipper rooms', and 400 guests can sit down at once. The cloak rooms and. other places are all fitted with telephones, nominated

signals regulate the motor traffic out side tho abbey.

There is also a room with an ornithological collection. The kitchens are connected with tho dining-room by a miniature railway. The gardens are about 25 acres m extent and contain wonderful displays of bowers and. fruit, an arbor walk oi pear trees and apple trees and immense greenhouses. The park, which is a fragment "of old Sherwood Forest, is about ten miles in circuit and contain herds of white and other deer.