Welbeck: Harley Gallery secures go ahead for huge new extension

The Harley Gallery at Welbeck have unveiled plans for a new extension to house the Portland Collection. Pictured is Architect Hugh Broughton with Director of the Harley Foundation Lisa Gee (w130529-1a)

Work is set to start on the new building, which will be situated next to the existing gallery on the Welbeck Estate, later this year and is set to be completed in 2015.

The new building will display historic works from The Portland Collections - the arts collections of the Cavendish-Bentinck family, who have lived at Welbeck for over 400 years.

It is to be designed by Hugh Broughton Architects, whose previous projects include the Halley VI Antarctic Research Station, which earned them the title of ‘international breakthrough architect of the year 2013.’

Gallery director, Lisa Gee, said: “We’re very excited to be working with an internationally renowned architect to create a new building on the Welbeck Estate. Welbeck has a tradition of asatounding architecture and we hope the new gallery will inspire visitors for generations.”

The Cavendish-Bentinck family are currently headed by William Parente, grandson of the seventh Duke.

Mr Parente, chairman of the trustees of the Harley Foundation, said: “The new gallery is a marvellous opportunity for us to share the collections, which were built up by my family over generations. We will be able to develop a changing programme of different displays in over 800 square metres of exhibition space. These displays will show the breadth of these collections which different family members have added to over the centuries; each expressing their own aesthetics, interests and artistic preferences.”

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