In most of the apartments of the castle are many fine pictures, portraits and others, among which are the Duke of Cleveland, son of Charles II.; Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland; Lady Barnard, wife of Christopher, Lord Barnard; Harry, second Duke of Cleveland, in his Garter robes; and the first Duke of Cleveland in his uniform as Colonel of the Durham Militia. The Octagon Drawing-room, built by the second duke, is, in all its details, a most elaborate and highly finished apartment. The furniture is elegant. In this room is Hiram Powers’ celebrated statue of the “Greek Slave,” purchased by the second Duke of Cleveland for £1,800.
The Kitchen is a fine specimen of mediæval architecture, and is evidence of the lavish hospitality of a former age. “The enormous oven would have baked bread for an army, and is described by Pennant as being, in his time, used as a wine-cellar, ‘the sides being divided into two parts, and each part holding a hogshead of wine in bottles.’”
It is not necessary for us to enter further into the details of the interior arrangements of the castle. All we need say is, that the rooms are fitted and furnished with all the appliances of Art which might be expected in the home of so enlightened and so liberal-minded a nobleman as his Grace the Duke of Cleveland.
Staindrop, closely adjoining Raby Park, is an interesting town, whose Church contains many monuments to members of the noble families of Nevil and Vane. The Church was restored in 1849. Among the monuments, perhaps the most interesting are an altar-tomb, with recumbent effigies, to Ralph Nevil, Earl of Westmoreland, and his two wives, Margaret, daughter to Hugh, Earl of Stafford, and Joan, daughter to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster; and a monument in wood, with effigies of Henry, fifth Earl of Westmoreland (1564), and his two wives. There is also a magnificent white marble altar-tomb to the first Duke of Cleveland, by Westmacott, the recumbent figure on which is beautifully executed. In the chancel there is a monument, of exquisite design, in the purest white marble, in memory of Sophia, Duchess of Cleveland (wife of the second duke), who died in 1859. Within the altar-rails are other monuments, including those of Henry, second Earl of Darlington, who died in 1792; Margaret, Countess of Darlington, who died in 1800; and Katharine Margaret, Countess of Darlington, who died in 1807. There are also stained-glass windows in memory of Henry, second Duke of Cleveland; one erected by the friends and tenants of the Duke, and the other by Lady Augusta Powlett, his sister-in-law. A monumental brass of chaste design, on the north side of the Church, preserves the memory of William, third Duke of Cleveland. North of the Church is a Mausoleum, erected by the second Duke of Cleveland, in which the remains of the Duke and other members of the family repose.
CLIEFDEN.
OUR notice of “charming Cliefden” must necessarily be brief; not because the “Stately Home” itself lacks of stateliness, of beauty, of grandeur, or of interest; not because the episodes in its history are “few and far between,” or devoid of incident; not because its glorious situation and its picturesque surroundings present few features for the pen to dwell upon, and the poetic or artistic mind to linger over; and not because the genealogies of the families to which it has belonged will not vie both in point of antiquity, in fame, and in noble and illustrious actions with others; but simply because the space at our disposal will admit only of words where we would gladly have written paragraphs. In interest, in beauty, and picturesque surroundings, Cliefden will bear favourable comparison with most others of our series, while it yields to none in the loveliness, the romantic beauty, and the attractiveness of its situation. To take only a cursory glance at such a place is like peeping in at the door of a picture gallery, without having time to note any of the treasures spread on its walls.