The barns were transformed in 2020 into the six-holiday homes that you can see today. Their names are a nod to the past as they commemorate the horse racing victories of the 6th Duke of Portland. His racing successes were legendary, as were some of his winning horses that included – Mrs Butterwick, Mowerina, Marquesa, Phaleron, and La Roche.

La Roche was a bay mare out of Miss Mildred and Melton, born 1897. One of the best racehorses owned and bred by the 6th Duke of Portland, winning the Epsom Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks, Newmarket Oaks and Manchester Cup. She became a broodmare at the Welbeck Abbey stud and foaled Cannobie and Almissa. She died aged 23.

Mrs Butterwick was a bay thoroughbred mare owned by the 6th Duke of Portland and bred out of St. Simon and Miss Middlewick; she was born in 1890. She had several wins, including the Epsom Oaks and Newmarket Oaks (1893). On finishing her racing career, she became a broodmare on the Welbeck Abbey stud and foaled Phaleron, Tomassina and Greatorex, all of who became successful racehorses.

Marquesa was a chestnut thoroughbred mare out of Blair Athol and Murcia, born in 1879. Her wins included 2-Year-Old Stakes at Newmarket (1881).

Mowerina was a chestnut thoroughbred mare bought by the 6th Duke of Portland in 1881. She was foaled in Denmark to Scottish Chief (sire) and Stockings (dam). She raced for 5 seasons and had 9 wins, including The Lewes Summer Meeting (1882), the Doncaster Stakes (Portland Plate), Chesterfield Stakes at Newmarket and the Liverpool Summer Meeting (Molyneux Cup, 1882). After retirement, she became a broodmare at the Welbeck Abbey stud and foaled a number of successful racehorses, including Donovan and Semolina. She died aged 30.

Phaleron was owned and bred by the 6th Duke of Portland out of Mrs Butterwick and Gallinule. He was a small chestnut colt with white markings born in 1906. Wins included Royal Stakes at Newmarket, the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket (1909) and Kempton. Apparently, he was known for putting in a few bucks and unseating a number of jockeys.

All the artwork in the barns has been chosen by Alison Swan-Parente and reflects the family’s historical interest in modern art and the 6th Duke’s love of racing. The furniture all comes from PR Homes, which is based on the estate in Cuckney.

St Winifred’s Chapel in the village of Holbeck is worth a visit. The Grade II listed church was built for the Dukes of Portland and was the traditional burial place of the Dukes and their families. All the properties in Holbeck are still owned by the estate and, as has been tradition for hundreds of years, many of the houses in Holbeck are still lived in by estate employees.