Raby Castle
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Raby Castle (grid reference NZ12912177) is near Staindrop in County Durham, England. The castle sits in a 200 acres (810,000 m2) deer park.[1] The castle was built by John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville de Raby in approximately 1367 to 1390. Cecily Neville, who was the mother of the Kings Edward IV and Richard III was born here. After Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland, led the failed Rising of the North in favour of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1569 Raby Castle was taken into royal custody.
Sir Henry Vane the Elder purchased the castle in 1626 and neighbouring Barnard Castle from the Crown, and as the Earls of Darlington and Dukes of Cleveland, a Gothic-style entrance hall and octagon-shaped drawing room were added.[2] From 1833 to 1891 they were the Dukes of Cleveland, and they retain the title of Lord Barnard. Extensive alterations were carried out in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is the home and seat of John Vane, 11th Baron Barnard, who is the present lord of the castle.[3] The castle is famed for both the size and the artworks contained within it, including works by old masters and examples of portraiture.[4] Raby Castle is a Grade I listed building and open to the public on a seasonal basis.
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[edit] History
The house of Neville held the manor of Raby since the 13th century,[5] and although the family did not have a formal title from 1295 they were called to parliament as barons of Raby;[6] Ralph Neville, 1st Baron Neville de Raby, was the first to be called to parliament. His heir, John Neville (1299/1300–1335) became a member of Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster's household, beginning the family's link with the Earls of Lancaster.[7] Raby was the family's caput, their seat of power, and there may have been a fortified house on the site of the present building from around 1300.[5] In the second half of the 14th century, the Nevilles began rebuilding several of their properties in northern England, including Raby Castle between roughly 1367 and 1390.[8] In the closing years of the century, the Nevilles were becoming one of the most powerful families in northern England, comparable to the House of Percy who had been made Earls of Northumberland in 1377.[6]
In 1378 Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham, granted John de Neville a licence to fortify his proprty at Raby.[9] John died in 1388 and was succeeded by his son, Ralph.[6] Almost nothing of the family's papers survive from this period, so there is little documentary evidence of Raby Castle's construction. The dating is based mostly on architectural details. In the words of historian Anthony Emery, the work "converted it from a defendable house into a palace-fortress".[5]
Ralph was created Earl of Westmorland on 29 September 1397 by Richard II as a reward for his loyalty in the face of political unrest.[6] However, his family's traditional association with the earls of Lancaster meant that when Henry Bollinbroke of the House of Lancaster invaded in July 1399 Neville sided with Bollingbroke. Neville helped convince Richard II to abdicate and Henry was crowned as Henry IV. Neville was made Earl Marshal of England on the day of Henry's coronation and a knight of the Order of the Garter in 1403.[6]
Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland, died in 1564 and was succeeded to the family estates by his son, Charles. The Nevilles were Catholics and Charles was one of the leaders of the failed Rising of the North in 1569 against England's Protestant Queen Elizabeth I. Due to the severity of the threat to the Crown, over 800 rebels were executed, and Charles Neville and Thomas Percy (Earl of Westmorland and another leader of the rebellion) fled into exile. In 1571 Neville an attainder was issued against Neville and his lands forfeited to the Crown.[10]
After the Rising of the North the castle became the property of the Crown for over forty three years, before being bought by Henry Vane, 1st Earl of Darlington who previously resided at Barnard Castle in County Durham.[11] He was impressed by the size and lands, opposed to that at Barnard which was hemmed in by the surrounding town. The House of Vane were responsible for much of the modernising of the castle, especially the interior. These include renovation of the medieval chapel and drawing room. The family also were responsible for driving a carriage-way though the castle, causing much damage to the castle's medieval fabric.[4] Architect William Burn carried out alterations to Raby Castle between 1843 and 1848; the work included adding new roofs to the great hall and the chapel and adding a drawing room to one of the towers in Jacobean style.[12] The present family are responsible for the great collection of artworks in the castle.[3]
In 1890 the former 4th Duke of Cleveland died, leaving the line of succession to the castle, and its vast estates, unclear.[3] The case was decided in 1891 when the Committee of Privileges of the House of Lords held his relative, Henry de Vere Vane to be the 9th Baron Barnard and inheritor of the vast estates of Raby. He did not, however, inherit the title of Duke of Cleveland which became extinct.[13]
Christopher Vane, 10th Baron Barnard divested himself of all but 1,713 acres (693 ha) of the 53,000-acre (21,000 ha) Raby estate.[14] Raby Castle is open to the public every year between May and September and at Easter.[15] In 2007/08 about 26,000 people visited the castle.[16]
[edit] Layout
Raby Castle has an irregular plan, with nine towers along it perimeter. The main entrance was in the west through the four-storey Neville Gateway.[12] The gatehouse used to be accessed by a drawbridge, but it has since been replaced by a flagged causeway.[4] The gatehouse originally contained three portcullis, evidenced by the groves still visible used to work them.[11]
The two smaller towers beside the gatehouse have no defensive function and were added during the renovations of Henry Vane, 2nd Earl of Darlington.[4]
Access to the gatehouse is gained by a door through the enclosing wall of enceinte,[2] which rose to a height of thirty feet from the waters of the moat.[12] This is strengthened periodically by buttress towers[12] and formed the second line of defense, the moat being the first.[17] The passage along the parapet was the ancient chemin de ronde (allure) on which guards were posted.[2] Similar passages can be found at York Castle and around the city of Oxford.[12]
The castles buildings surround a central courtyard. Forming its east side is the great hall, also known as the "Baron's Hall". The medieval kitchen and keep are mostly intact on the inside.[12]
[edit] Artworks
The castle is famous for its works of art, mostly collected by the House of Vane, including old masters and family portraiture. Some noted artists who's work is in the castle's collection include Titian, Canaletto and Sir Joshua Reynolds.
- Private apartments[4]
There are several works of note in the private apartments of the family, including two depictions Venetian scenes painted by Canaletto and Marieschi as well as several family portraits executed by notable artists of the day. The apartments also contain a selection of fine Chinese porcelain, including vases and plates.[4]
| Artist or medium | Title or description of subject |
|---|---|
| Jacopo Marieschi | On the Grand Canal, Venice |
| David Teniers the Elder and Jacques d'Arthois | Landscape with Figures |
| Giovanni Antonio Canal (known as Canaletto) | On the Grand Canal, Venice |
| Carlo Dolci[18] | The Madonna in Prayer |
| David Teniers the Elder | The Gipsy Encampment |
| Giovanni Paolo Panini | An Architectural Composition |
| Spanish School | Portrait of a Man |
| David Teniers the Younger | Habour Scene |
| Jacopo Marieschi | A Public Square in Venice |
| The School of Nicolas Poussin | Landscape with Figures |
- Library[4]
The pictures in the library, with the exception of two architectural pieces executed by Panini above the fireplace, are all portraits of the family or figures associated with them. Of note are depictions of the younger and older Sir Henry Vanes wearing the Order of the Garter. The room also contains a pastel drawing of the former Lady Barnard by Ellis Roberts[4] which she considered to be her best work.[19]
| Artist or medium | Title or description of subject |
|---|---|
| Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt | Henry Vane, 1st Earl of Darlington |
| The Hon. John Collier | Sir H. M. Vane |
| Robert Walker | Sir Henry Vane the Younger |
| Pompeo Batoni | Sir William Meredith, 3rd Baronet |
| Allan Ramsay | Lady with Feather Fan |
| Giovanni Paolo Panini | An Architectural Composition |
| Unknown artist | Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton, KG |
| Peter Lely | Lady Mary Sackville, daughter of Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset |
| Unknown artist | A boy, supposed to be William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath |
| Ellis Roberts[19] | Sylvia Mary Straker, the wife of Christopher Vane, 10th Baron Barnard |
| Unknown Artist | Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, depicted in this portrait as a boy |
| Peter Lely | Louise Renée de Penancoët de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth |
| In the style of John Hoppner[20] | Henrietta Elizabeth Frederica, the daughter of the Hon. Charles Vane and wife of Sir William Langham, Bart. |
| Autotype[21] | Oliver Cromwell |
| Maria Chalon | Lord Harry Vane |
- Ante-Library[4]
The pictures in the Ante-Library are chiefly of the Dutch school of painting with some notable examples by Lorrain and Titan.[4] The room also contains portraits, mostly members of the family.
| Artist or medium | Title or description of subject |
|---|---|
| Thomas Gainsborough | Elizabeth Wood, wife of the Hon. Charles Vane |
| Claude Lorrain | The Embarcation of the Queen of Sheba |
| George Romney | The Hon. Charles Vane |
| Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (known as Titian) | The Holy Family, on the frame are the arms of the Torriano family |
| Wilhelm Schubert van Ehrenberg | Interior of an Italian Church |
| Pieter de Hooch | In interior |
| Jan Steen | Dutch interior |
| Willem van Mieris | A woman huxtering fish |
| David Teniers the Younger | In an artist’s studio |
| Jan Steen | Inside a Tavern |
| Adriaen van Ostade | Dutch Interior |
| Unknown artist | Sophia, daughter of the 2nd Duke of Cleveland |
| Sir George Hayter | Henry Vane |
| After R. Crossway RA | Henry Vane |
| Unknown artist | The Hon. Anne Vane |
| David Teniers the Younger | A Country Tavern |
- Dining Room[4]
The dining room contains some of the castle’s most impressive paintings, such as Joshua Reynolds, Anthony van Dyck and Rembrandt. The subjects of the paintings in this room are mostly of portraiture of members of the family or associates and still lives.[4]
| Artist or medium | Title or description of subject |
|---|---|
| Sir Godfrey Kneller | Alexander Pope in his 28th year, engraved by John Smith |
| The School of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo | Joseph Interpreting the Dream of Pharaoh’s Chief Baker |
| William Hoare | The Hon. Charles Vane |
| Sir Godfrey Kneller | William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield |
| Wilhelm Schubert van Ehrenberg | William Talbot |
| Unknown artist | An unknown gentlemen, possibly one of the sons of Gilbert Vane, 2nd Baron Barnard |
| Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt | Sir Henry Vane the Elder |
| Jan van Huysum | A Composition of Fruit and Lobsters |
| Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (known as Rembrandt) | Head of an Old Man, signed and dated 1635 |
| Ludolf Bakhuizen | Storm Coming On: A Sea Piece |
| Unknown artist | Sir Henry Vane the Younger |
| Jacopo da Ponte (known as Jacopo Bassano | A Vegetable and Fruit Market |
| Robert Walker) | Oliver Cromwell |
| Gerard Dou | A Burgomaster |
| Aert van der Neer | River Scene at Midnight |
| Either Sir Anthony van Dyck or Sir Peter Paul Rubens | A Group, believed to be either (i) Jakob Jordans and his wife or; (ii) Syders and his wife |
| Sir Anthony van Dyck | James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton |
| Sir Anthony van Dyck | John Finch, 1st Baron Finch |
| Sir Joshua Reynolds P.R.A.[22] | Lady Margaret Powlett |
| Allan Ramsay | William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath |
| Luca Giordano | Manius Curius Dentatus Jumping into the Gulf |
| Unknown artist | Joseph Addison |
| Thomas Barker | The Woodman Returning |
| The School of Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (known as Raphael) | The Holy Family |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Deer Park". Raby Castle. http://www.rabycastle.com/Deer_Park. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ a b c Hodgson, J. F. (1880 to 1895). English Medieval Architects; J.F. Hodgson, 'Raby in Three Chapters'. Durham, UK: Transactions of the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland. pp. Vols II and IV 1 et seq..
- ^ a b c Hammond, Peter W. (1998). The Complete Peerage or a History of the House of Lords and All Its Members from the Earliest Times, Vol. XIV. Shroud, UK: Sutton Publishing. pp. 30–32. ISBN 978-0750901543.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Scott, Owen Stanley (1906). Raby: Its Castle and Its Lords. Barnard Castle (UK): A & E Ward, Printers, &c.. p. 1, et seq..
- ^ a b c Emery, Anthony (1996). Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales, 1300–1500, Volume I: Northern England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 123. ISBN 9780521497237.
- ^ a b c d e Tuck, Anthony (2004), "Neville, Ralph, first earl of Westmorland (c.1364–1425)" (subscription or UK public library membership required), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/19951
- ^ McNiven, Peter (2004), "Neville family (per. c.1267–1426)" (subscription or UK public library membership required), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/54532
- ^ Emery, Anthony (1996). Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales, 1300–1500, Volume I: Northern England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 32. ISBN 9780521497237.
- ^ Raby Castle licence to crenellate, The Gatehouse, http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/LOC/13780510.html, retrieved 2011-12-18
- ^ McDermott, Roger (2004), "Neville, Charles, sixth earl of Westmorland (1542/3–1601)" (subscription or UK public library membership required), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/19924
- ^ a b Surtees, Robert (1820). The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham: volume 2 – Describes the 21 parishes and chapelries of Chester ward in the north of the county, including Gateshead, Jarrow and other parts of present-day urban Tyneside. London: Institute of Historical Research. pp. 220.
- ^ a b c d e f English Heritage. "Raby Castle". The Listed Building Register. English Heritage. http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1338625&resourceID=5. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ The Official Gazette of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham 1908 to 1919. Durham Freemasons. 1919. p. 172.
- ^ The Correspondent for Obituaries (Tuesday 20 October 1964). "Lord Barnard". The Times of London.
- ^ "Visiting Raby Castle". Raby Castle. http://www.rabycastle.com/Visiting_Raby_Castle. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ "SP606 Project Report: Enterprising Market Towns 2006–2008" (PDF). Teesdale Marketing. 2008. p. 33. http://www.teesdalemarketing.co.uk/downloads/project_report.pdf. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ Thornton, George (2010). The Rising in the North: The Rising of the Northern Earls. Unknown: Ergo Press. pp. 24–26. ISBN 978-0955751080.
- ^ Attributed to Dolci, but unsigned.
- ^ a b Whitehead, John; Curtis, Anthony (1995). The Art of Somerset Maugham (Saturday Review of Literature). New York (USA): Routledge. pp. 245–256.
- ^ A photograph.
- ^ Reproduced from the portrait in the possession of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
- ^ Engraved by J. R. Smith
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Raby Castle |
- Raby Castle - Official site
- Bibliography of sources relating to Raby Castle
- English Heritage: Images of England, listing and architectural details
- Structures of the North East
Coordinates: 54°35′27″N 1°48′7″W / 54.59083°N 1.80194°W
