The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-15 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OP THE STATE APART-
MENTS OF CUMBE.RLA.ND LODGE.

Windsor was thrown into a state of excitement yesterday
by the announcement of a fire at Cumberland Lodge.
The fire was first discovered by Viscount Bridport about
half-past nine o'clock. He and Viscountess Bridport and
family are in residence at Cumberland Lodge. His
lordship, on going out from the house into the grounds
perceived smoke issuing from the roof of the prin-
cipal building containing the State apartments. This
erection is of red brick, and consists of a central pavilion
and hall, with two wings, in which were the splendid suite
of State apartments, consisting of a drawing-room, billiard-
room, &c., containing -valuable furniture and paintings
and other property. Immediately in the rear of this
building, and connected with it, is the mansion of Viscount
Bridport, while abutting on one end are the royal hunting
stables. His lordship immediately ordered out the Cum-
berland Lodge engine, and despatched mounted mes-
sengers for others, and they speedily arrived. In the
meanwhile his Royal Highness Prince Christian, attended
by Colonel Gordon, had reached the fire, and with Lord
Somerset, Lord Kilmarnock, and other officers of the 3rd
Battalion Grenadier Guards, did good service in directing
the energies of those engaged in removing the valuable fur-
niture and works of art, and subduing the fire. At
noon the interior of the building was a mass of flames,
confined within the shell formed by the massive walls.
Such of the furniture and valuables as could be hastily
rescued were got out, but the scenery from the private
theatre at Windsor Castle, which was stored in the ball,
was entirely consumed, as well as other property of great
value. The excitement which prevailed was intense.
Throngs of spectators crowded upon the open park in front
of the burning building. Upon the lawn, within the iron fence
opposite the mansion of Viscount Bridport, the furniture„
pictures, and valuables were placed, well out of the vicinity
of the conflagration. By the active exertions of the Volun-
teer Fire Brigade, the conflagration was happily confined
within the grand old building where it had commenced,
although at sevral times the residence of Viscount and
Viscountess Bridport was in imminent danger, owing to
the direction of the wind. Her Majesty the Queen, who
is now in residence at Windsor Castle, received an early
intimation of the disastrous nature of the fire. Ths
interior of the fine old building is gutted completely,
and the beautifully-decorated State apartments de-
stroyed. Nothing but a ruin remains. It is extremely
fortunate that the fire did not occur during the night,
as, owing to the direction of the strong wind, and the
rapidity and violence of the flames, Viscount Bridport's
mansion, which is but another wing of the building,
must have been involved in the conflagration, and the
consequences disastrous in the extreme. Cumberland
Lodge was called so from its having been the seat of
William Duke of Cumberland, uncle to George 111. Her
Majesty the Queen left the Castle in the afternoon, and
visited Lord and Lady Bridport at Cumberland Lodge.
Her Majesty, after viewing the scene of the conflagration,
returned to the Castle.