The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-10-10 00:00:00

THE COUNTESS OF DERWENTWATER.

On Tuesday morning in last week, Amelia,
Countess of Derwentwater, with a retinue id ser-
vants, appeared. at the old baronial castle of her
ancestors, Dilston Ohl Castle, and at once took
possession of the old ruin. Her ladyship, who is a
tine-looking, elderly lady, was dressed in an Austrian
military uniform, and wore a sword by her side in the
most approved fashion In the course of the morning,
her ladyship was visited by Mr. Grey, the receiver to
the Greenwich Hospital estates, who informed her she
was trespassing upon the property of the commis-
sioners, and that he would be obliged to report the cir-
cumstance to their lordships. Her ladyship informed
that gentleman that she was acting under the advice of
her legal advisers, and was quite prepared to defend
the legality of her proceedings. The sides of the prin-
cipal room have already been hung with the Derwent-
water family pictures. to some of which the Countess
bears a marked resemblance, and the old baronial flag
of the unfortunate family already floats proudly from
the summit of the fine, though old and dilapidated,
tower.

A contemporary tarnishes the following particulars :
A few days back we noted the fact that Matilda,
Countess of Derwentwater, who lays claim to the
estates of the Earl of Derwentwater, executed for par-
ticipating in the rebellion of 1715, had, by the advice
• I her solicitor, taken possession of Dilston Castle,
part of the possessions, but which is now held by the
Lords of the Admiralty. On Thursday Mr. Grey,
according to instructions received from the Admiralty,
proceeded to eject the countess. On arriving at the
castle he found the entrance barricaded, and his men
immediately set to wark and demolished the ob-
structions. On entering' Mr. Grey proceeded to
where the countess had established herself, and
urged her not to compel him to use violence,
hut to leave quietly. She was, 18. A-ever, still
obdurate, and repeated her intenti in of dying,
there rather than leave. She was tinder a sort of
tent or awning supported on poles stretching from the
fireplace, andthe poles being kept in their places by
stones resting on the ends. After the pictures,
large box, &c., had been removed, the men proceeded
to take down the tent. This was a work of some diffi-
culty and danger, for the stones might have fallen and
injured somebody. The men proceeded to take away
the poles, and, as it were, to take away the roof from
over her ladyship's head whereupon she seized a sword
which was in her possession, drcv• it from the scabbard,
and struck lustily at two of the men right and left.
Mr. Grey immediately interposed, and told her that
if she used such a weapon as that he must disarm her,
and use violence. During the parley which ensued Mr.
Grey's clerk seized the sword by the handle, the
countess holding it at the same time. She immediately
assailed him with a torrent if vituperation, and charged
him with an al,saAit upon her person, and threatened
him with legal consequences. 'While this was going
on one of the woodmen went quietly behind, and taking
up the scabbard, which the countess had thrown down,
slipped it over the sword, and they were thus enabled
to disarm her, and prevent her doing further mischief.
Mr. Grey again remonstrated with her, and urged her
to take her departure; but she sat down on a kind
it military chair, and repeated her intention of dying
there. Four of the men then lifted up the chair on
which she sat, and in this way she was carried out of
the castle and through the grounds, and deposited on
the highway which runs alongside the estate. As soon
as she was set down on the road, she jumped off the
chair with great agility, and protested loudly against
her ejectment. Mr. Grey had kindly sent round his
carriage, with the intention of placing it at her dis-
posal, SO that she might have the means ..f removing
to wherever she chose. An soon, however, as she be-
came aware that it was Mr. Grey's carriage, she re-
fused to enter it, and determined to stay upon the
highway. She also declared her intention of again
taking possession of the castle. The c. mutess did not
immediately proceed to carry out this intention; but
crossing the road to where her goods had been de-
posited, immediately opposite the gate, she, with the
assistance of her servants, set to work to arrange a
kind of camp, and there she passed the night, the two
men alternately walking sentry in front of the tent,
and sleeping on the camp chair set against the hedge.
The tent in which the countess is ensconced presents
a most extraordinary appearance. The basis seems to
consist of a huge oaken chest, which hail been placed
across the channel at the side of the road, one end of
it resting on the road, and the other against the hedge
side. Beside it is a smaller chest, very strongly bound
with iron, and supposed to contain the muniments of
the clahnant. Some soft material has been laid on the
box and other things, so as to form a couch Or bed.
Overhead are placed a couple of umbrellas, and the side
next the road is protected from view, and also partly
from the weather, by a small round table, which is' let
down," or in the position not intended for use. At the
ends are shawls, &c., to protect her ladyship from the
weather. The flag-staff, still bearing the flag, she
hoisted on taking possession of the castle, is lying
under the hedge behind the tent. Several of the things
bear the name " Radcliffe " - the family name of the
Derwentwaters, but the paint in which it is written
seems quite fresh and new. The countess herself was
lying all day on Friday on the couch or bed, with a
sheepskin mat for a covering. She is well dressed,
and wears a white satin bonnet. She is apparently
about sixty years of age, though she has stated she is
only thirty-eight.

A Newcastle papergtves the following turtherparticul ars
The threatening weather of Saturday necessitated a
little alteration in the construction of her camp, and
several large pieces of tarpauling having been kindly
supplied by gentlemen from the neighbourhood, they
were spread so judiciously as to afford the requisite
shelter, and at the same time to increase the accom-
modation of the interior. By this means her ladyship
was enabled to withstand the heavy downpour of rain
which fell at a Wee hour of the day, and continued
with but little intermission the whole night long ; but
not so satisfactorily fared the men who watched the
castle, for their canvass covering becoming thoroughly
saturated soon after dark, they were compelled to
protect themselves under shelter of the hedge
during the remainder of their weary vigil. Early
morning discovered both pies still at their allotted
posts, and the sun shining out gloriously during
the day, C 116011.9 visitors were tempted to the spot
from nearly every part of Tyneside. Gaily-dressed
ladies and gentlemen were mingled with lads and
lasses from the adjoining pits and homesteads ; and so
numerously did these visitors arrive that by three
o'clock in the afternoon their numbers must have
amounted to several thousands at least, and the traffic
of the road for three or four hundred yards NS as conse-
quently rendered almost impassible. Many privileged
visitors made their appearance during the thy, and as
each conveyed wine, provisions, or delicacies, there is
little fear of the Countess being compelled to retire
for want of supplies. The (Vicar of Newcastle and
Mrs. Moody have had long interviews with her lady-
ship, as also has Mrs. Stainthorpe of Hexham ; while
Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, of Corbridge, have several
times driven to the camp in their carriage. The
popular sympathy in the Countess's cause is very
great, is pretty freely expressed, and seems to afford
her ladyship very considerable gratification. How the
present part of the proceedings will terminate we
cannot predict; but the police, under the peculiar cit.-
enmstaaces, express their determination not to inter-
fere between the Countess and Mr. Grey unless specially
ordered to effect her ladyship's removal as an ob-
struction.

On Monday Lady Amelia Radcliffe continued in
possession of the tent which she had erected for her.

self on the side of the road adjacent to Dilston Castle.
The weather was tine, and a number of persons visited
the locality during the day, including Miss Errington,
of Sandie& ; Lady Madeline Taylor; Lady Polling-
ton and family; 'Mrs. Nightingale, of Tynemouth ;
Mrs. J. Temperley, f Temperley Grange; Mrs. Ridley,
Sir Edward Blackett, Sim This completed a week
since her ladyship ventured on this course of proceeding
in order to e-tablish her title to the estates. The pri-
vation and fatigue which she has undergone are con-
siderable. The castle is carefully guarded. The
principal approach is secured by lock and chain, and
men are appointed in addition to prevent trespass.
The countess, however, holds that the ground she
occupies really forms part of the estate of the castle,
and that she has not been ousted to the extent that is
generally supposed. Her ladyship's health is not SO
good as at the commencement of the proceedings.
Ladies and gentlemen living in the neighbourhood
evince towards her a kind disposition, and public
interest and anxiety in the case increase. The police
do not interfere, and up to Monday night there were
no signs of any attempt being made by the Admiralty
authorities to remove the temporary habitation of the
countess. When it was dusk, the fires might be seen
at some distance bunting brightly by the camps on
each side of the road, and illuminating the trees and
buildings in the immediate neighbourhood.