Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-08-08
A GOTHIC CASTLE UNDER THE HAMMER.

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A GOTHIC CASTLE UNDER THE HAMMER.
The death Of the late Earl Of Shrewsbury has ex-
tinguished one Of the oldest ttlestn England which
has been borne by the Talbot family uninterruptedy
since the time of Henry H. The founder of the fami
" was the celebrated John Talbot who figures so
conspicuously in Shakspcar's historical plays, and
the name has always been strongly identified with
the interests 1.-The Roman Catholic party in Eng
land of which the late Earl was one of the leaders
The death Of the Earl, without heirs has induced
the necessity OF bringing under the hammer a vast
collection OF furniture, paintings, arnor and all kinds
OF miscellaneous reicts which have accumulated for
centuries in the Talbot family Among these are in
cuded the armor in which John Talbot, the first
Earl, encountered Joan of Arc and died under the
walls of Poctiers and the banners which have survv
ed the wars of the Roses, or the Commonwealth, to
be sold at last at auction to the highest bidder AL
ton Towers, the principal seat of the family, and
which, according to London, presents the finest
combination of garden building scenery anywhere
existing in Europe" is now open for the purposes OF
the auction. We copy the the following description
of it from the London Times
"Alton Towers is situated on lofty emnence in
the valley of the Churnet, of the steep comman
ding hills which from .ae base of Derbyshire Peak.
The house oveIlooks narrow and very steep ravne,
which stretches southwark for about mile and
half terminating in wild, dark looking gorge, like
one of the mountain outlets in South Wales The
approach to the towers winds from the railway sta.
ton at Alton up the steep ascent, which is so hckly
wooded as almost to exclude the light, and the house
stands on the very edge of the ravine down either
side of which the terraced gardens, tier below
tier till the bottommost pu, terres almost unds
tnguishable save for their brilliant colors. The tow
themselves form noble Gothic pile, vast as
little town. with whole crowd of turres and pima
cles stretching high into the air. visible for miles
around
There is wild and picturesque irregularity about
the structure which gives it an appearance of anti
putty far beyond its real age. The principal entrance
is under massive square tower OF the Gothic type,
the broad steps up which 1anked with tho armo-
rial bearing of the family, the tykc talbot ram
pant. Over the high Norman doorway the emilia
comments of the still older families, from which the
Talbots spring. deeply cut in stone, the shields
Of the FurnvalS and DE Verdons whose names are
foremost in he DoomsCay Book with the martlet of
the great house of Nvile whose last heir. Warwick,
the king maker, fell at the field of Barnet The
trance hall is an apartment large modern
mansion, and nearly sixty feet in height. Hung
around with weapons, stays heads, and hunting tro
phies it gives the visitor good idea of the noble
suite of apartments which to follow, and can be
seen from the door, for communicating with the hall
is the armory, and Joined TO that again is the picture
gallery, forming magnificent vista nearly five
hundred feet in length, and lofty in proportion.
''The armory is a splendid chamber, with vault
ed roof of carved and polished oak and with every
minor fitting, even to the doors and door-locks, in
Keeping with It's severe ana massive style oil OeCOfa-
ton. 1t is adorned with collection of antique wea
pons and armor, second in extent, rarity and value
only to those of Meyrick and the Tower Of London.
Twenty-four figures shcathed from head to foot in
complete mail, stand in inches on each side of the
hail. and look Iormidably grim and silent that one
can fancy vcngcful eyes are watching from behind
the barrel vizors and though of course not frghten
ed would prefer not being left alone with them. Some
of these suits are most antique and valuable, COM
pcte in all the tcchnicates of pOldrons, gussetS.
lobster topets, ci>scs, ambs ahd soarets. The rest
of the hall is filled with disnembercd portions of cap
pie SUITS rich look at and uncomfortable to wear,
with halbcrds, maces, halfpike, bills, wheel guns,
and double axes, all presenting the same general
bood-thirsy features, and expressly constructed to
cash aud main the smallest provocatOn.
"A fine old screen Of pixies and partisans divides
the armory from the picture gallery spacious bull
ding hundred and twenty feet long and thirty feet
high 1t is lit from the roof and ali its decorations
are rich and beautiful, harInonizing well with the
fine paintings, mosaics and sculpture which adorn
its entire length Here examples from the Ro-
man, Tuscan, Venetian, Florentine, and Dutch
schools Of art pictures by Ratfaelle Domenichno,
Titan, Rai;ellino, and Veronesc designs by Mich.
acl Angelo, and statues by Canova in all, seven
hundred paintings hang In the galleries of Alton
Towers. OF this large number the fame and history
Of about sixty chronicled in every work Of art
the others are mixed works. such as one expects to
meet in SO large and well-known gallery.
''lncre are some remarkably Hne specimens Oy
Rubcns, Wouvermans and Cuyp among them The
greater part Of these paintings purchased BY
the Shrewsbury family in one lot, from the collection
of Madame la Mere, Bonaparte's mother. Here also
is the most celebrated Roman Mosaic table in the
kingdom, which the exotic birds and plants seem
like penclled drawings. At the end of the gallery
magnificent statue of Ratfale by Ceccarini, a
crowd of busts by Canova, superb candeabrum Of
varegaed marble, nine feet high, and copy of the
great Warwick vase in statuary marble, of the same
size as the renowned original.
1.-The picture gallery opens into the octagon cham
Der, copy of the Chapter-house at Salisbury. One
noble column supports the groined roof over which
its enriched capitals radiae in all directions. By the
side of the column is representation of the tomb Of
the first earl-od John Talbot-Shakspear' favor
ito hero, with his mailed feet resting on couchant
hound and his stony gaze fixed hard and stern upon
the intrusive crowd assembled to hagge over the ef-
fects of his last descendant. From this the visitor
turs into the tribune of the Talbot gallery then to
the Talbot gallery ITSELF then to the Talbot corridor,
which leads the state bed and dressing rooms, the
library, 1.-TWO spacious chambers) the ante.library,
the poets bay. small dining-room, drawing-room,
MUSHROOM, and on from room to room, till the
visitor is bewdered amid countless chambers all oil
which are furnished in style to extort both admir-
alton and wonder.
"No merely verbal description will convey an ad-
equate idea ofthe beauty the pleasure grounds
Though the ground they cover is little more than nj
ty acres in extent yet the paths through them are
so winding and so diversified as to appear almost end
less Both sides Of the steep ravine down which
they extend divided into a series of terraces,
each of which is named and distinguished for some
SURPRISING natural or architectural beauty. Grot
toes, fountains temples rookeries, statues, refugees
Conservatives, and pagodas as disclosed by every
winding path or stand out boldly little eminences
overlooking the deep ravine. The conservatores are
noble range of buildings ornamented in front with
massive columns, and surmounted by seven large
gilded domes which from the opposite side of
The rayine to impart to the whole structure the ap