IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Nottingham Road, MANSFIELD, NG18 4TJ

A view of the main reception building, with the Art Zone building to its left. The establishment is situated on a 20 acres (81,000 m2) site, part of Sherwood Forest. It was founded by Winifred, Duchess of Portland (1863-1954) who had nursed injured veterans in her home - Welbeck Abbey - during WWI and who was also responsible for many acts of charity related to miners’ welfare in this area. Her experiences in supporting injured veterans and miners led to the creation of nearby Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital in 1929. Working with the hospital’s chief, surgeon Alan Malkin, the Duchess developed a plan to open a training college that could complete the work of rehabilitation, equipping injured working men with new trades to make them economically independent once more. WWII and the 1944 Disabled Persons (Employment) Act gave further impetus to this project and by 1946 a Committee was established to develop a plan for this institution and to raise the necessary money. The land was a gift from the Duke of Portland the College opened for business on 24 July 1950. Today the college seeks to meet the residential, educational and vocational needs of approximately 270 ‘disabled’ students of between 16-60 yrs.

Portland College provides educational, social and employmnet support for people with disabilities.

A south-westerly view towards the College's distant main entrance/exit on the Nottingham-Mansfield road (the A60). The "Art Zone" building is on the right-hand side of the picture and a corner of the main (Reception) building is on the left.

Leading from the centre of the campus to the farm and the boiler house.

Covered walkway between buildings at Portland College for students with a wide range of disabilities.

The main reception building. This establishment is situated on a 20 acres (81,000 m2) site, part of Sherwood Forest. It was founded by Winifred, Duchess of Portland (1863-1954) who had nursed injured veterans in her home - Welbeck Abbey - during WWI and who was also responsible for many acts of charity related to miners’ welfare in this area. Her experiences in supporting injured veterans and miners led to the creation of nearby Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital in 1929. Working with the hospital’s chief, surgeon Alan Malkin, the Duchess developed a plan to open a training college that could complete the work of rehabilitation, equipping injured working men with new trades to make them economically independent once more. WWII and the 1944 Disabled Persons (Employment) Act gave further impetus to this project and by 1946 a Committee was established to develop a plan for this institution and to raise the necessary money. The land was a gift from the Duke of Portland the College opened for business on 24 July 1950. Today the college seeks to meet the residential, educational and vocational needs of approximately 270 ‘disabled’ students of between 16-60 yrs.

Situated in the heart of Harlow woods and near to the town of Mansfield

A southerly view across a "new" Woodland Play Area. This is behind the former Garden Centre adjacent to the Coffee Shop. The Coffee Shop is still functioning and is visible on the left. The Garden Centre and Gift Shop both closed in 2013(?) and this well designed and equipped playground opened behind the 'now long-gone' Portakabin premises that the garden centre previously occupied. This play area opened in February 2014 and is supervised by the coffee shop staff from the windows of the shop. Traffic on the busy main Nottingham-Mansfield road, the A60 (off right) can be heard thundering by just a stone's throw away.