Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
OSBORNE AND ITS GROUNDS.
Changes the Queen is Making There
Pictures and Cattle.

From the London World.
Rapid progress is being made with the addi-
tons to Osborne, and a wonderful amount of
work has already been done, considering that
the operations were only commenced four
months ago. The new buildings will somewhat
injure the original beauty of the house and its
immediate surroundings, and / hear that the
queen rather regrets that she sanctioned the
work, but Osborne was never intended to be
anything but purely family residence. and the
accommodation is quite inadequate for the en-
tertainment Of state guests, and even members
Of the royal family cannot be taken in, so that
they have to live in the various cottages on the
demesne. The Inconvenience was never felt
much until Princess Beatrice was married, when
it would have been utterly impossible to &C.
commodate the guests for whom it was neces-
not lent Norris castle to the queen.
Osborne was the favorite residence of the
prince consort and ne took the greatest pleas
ure in the place, which, indeed, was a creation
of his own, for he drew the plans from which
Mr. j. Cubitt built the house, which is one of
the best specimens in England of the domestic
Italian style. The Paliadian front is very fine
and the flag and clock towers at each end have a
good effect, and the terraced gardens and WE'LL
trimmed lawn are beautiful The queens own
rooms are on the highest floor of the pavilion
and they command a series Of magnificent views
in all directions. The house is filed with statu-
airy and pictures which are the private prop
erty Of the queen. Among the most notable
pictures are Lady Buffers Roll Calf Tin the
corridor) and Landseers Deer Pass" tin the
council chamber, and there is a superb fresco
on the staircase. The chapel, which is a recent
addition, has just been adorned with Sir Noel
Paton's touching picture, "Vigilate ct Orate,"
which has been placed above the altar.
The grounds at Osborne are beautifully
wooded; and there are some delightful flower
gardens and strawberries in the vicinity of the
house. Tho kitchen garden is not great feat
ure, as the queen receives daily supplies of
fruit and vegetables from Frogmore The
park, which contains many very fine trees,
slopes to the waters edge, and there is a pri-
vate pier on Osborne bay. and also floating bath
The demesne is more extensive than most visit
ors would suppose, and it affords drive of eight
miles, which was laid out by the prince con-
sort. The park is now stocked with fine herd
of very picturesque West Highland cattle,
which harmonize admirably with their sur
roundings. There is large home farm at
Osborne, on which is q very choice herd of
Jersey cattle, and flock Of Dorset Horn sheep
has been established, which will be another
picturesque addition to the park.
The Osborne estate was for two centuries the
property Of the Mann family, from whom it
passed by marriage to the Blackfords of Sand
hall, Hants, and it was from Lady Isabella
Blackboard that the queen purchased it in 1S4S.
1t includes the manor Of Barton and extends to
upward Of five thousand acres, being bounded
by the Solent, Kings Quay, the Cows and New
port road, and the Newport and Ryde road
respectively. Osborne was originally known as
Oysterbourne, but the name was changed when
it belonged to the Blackfords