Our eccentric gent star of the month is this chap his grace William John Cavendish-Scott-Bethnick, 5th Duke of Portland. (17 September 1800 - 6 December 1879). The son of the 4th Duke of Portland Bethnick was quite possible one of the most eccentric aristocrats of his day. A complete recluse the Duke lived a on his family estate of Wellbeck Abbey where he stripped the vast mansion of all of its furniture and tapestries and portraits which he stored elsewhere. The duke decided to live in only five rooms leaving the rest of the house abandoned. His private apartments where painted pink with bare floors and no furniture except of a commode in one corner. The duke was highly introverted and known for his bizarre eccentricity. A complete recluse he did not want to meet people. In fact not even his own servants where permitted to even look at him. One poor housemate who dares to do this was fired immediately without reference. The only two people to see the duke and engage with him where his valet and at a push his doctor. His household staff where given all their instructions in writing. No one actually knows why his grace behaved in this way. One though is that he was facially disfigured but this has been rebuked. The other is rejection from a love interest. He only ventured outside his palace at night time, dressed in a top hat, cloak and two overcoats. He’d even go as far to carry a large umbrella behind him to hide behind if someone tried to address him. His eating habits where quite bizarre also. He insisted on roasting a chicken at all hours of the day. The food was transported to his rooms through a series of underground tunnels running across his estate. The duke died at the age of 79 on 6th December 1879 at his London residence. He is buried in Kensal Green cemetery. #eccentric #gent #eccentricgent #dukeofportland #aristocrat #aristocracy #gentry #landedgentry #portland #wellbeckabbey #mansion #estate #palace #englisharistocracy #duke #dukedom #ducal #recluse #introvert (at Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnTLkGZllUq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cutfdry26p8f
