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Gilbert de Gant founded a Cistercian Abbey here on 12th July 1147 which flourished until its Dissolution in 1536. The estate passed through the Talbot and Savile families who adapted the monastic buildings into a substantial country house. By the early 1900s the house and 18,500 acre estate faced spiralling running costs and were sold in 1938 to Sir Albert Ball, who kept much of the land, but sold the house and gardens to the eccentric Henry de Vere Clifton. By the late 1940s, the neglected house had deteriorated significantly and was eventually bought with 150 acres of parkland by Nottinghamshire County Council in 1952. Insufficient funding for essential restoration meant that the late 17th century wing had to be demolished for safety reasons in 1956 and English Heritage took over responsibility for the fabric of the house.
The house and grounds were designated a Country Park in 1969 and have evolved into one of Nottinghamshire's most popular attractions, visited by around 450,000 people a year. Link