The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-17
WINDSOR CASTLE IN WINTER.
Methods of Heating and Lighting the
Queens DOmfcile.
London Daily News.


For lighting the castle four methods are
available, all of which are more or less III
operation, namely, gas, oil, cand!es anu
the electric light while for warming ARM ai,u
ing the residence of the court some nun
dreds of persons are in the castle peslues
the royal family and the visitors, conse-
quently the adequate provision Of all these
processes is of a somewhat gigantic ma
ture, keeping many servants constantly en-
ployed.
For the general lighting and heating gas
and coal are adopted, but this Is not SO IN
the Queens own room, nor in many other
of the royal apartments. In the matter or
fires for her own room the Queen. strictly
banishes coal She has eontirne nnl Prefer IF
wood have to be obtained for the purpose
from the thicky- timbered hills a few miles
Der of workmen are regularly employed on
this task. The timber, when fellsd and
down to a wharf on the riverside. where 1t
is dressed and cut up into blocks OF hxed
sizes. 1t is then stacked to get seasoned.
and as required supplies are brought down
to the castle for consumption IN the
Queens rooms.
q IS and oil are excluded from her Ma
jestys apartments. Here light is provided
by means of wax candles, all t one special
pattern their daily removal ing the duty
of a special official In some OF the other
apartments gas is utilized, and in other
parts oil lamps are burned, gas supplying
the quarters Of the staff generally. More
over, although the Queen bars all but
candles for her own private use, she has
permitted the introduction of IN electric
light plant. This is placed underneath the
north terrace. and is in charge OF q special
engineer, under the general supervision OF
a prominent electrician. This plant has
never been largely used, but The light has
been led into and applied TO the main cor
ridors, to two of the royal apart
ments and to the library. A year so
ago the original plant replaced by
newer and more powerful machinery. which
would probably suffice TO light the whole
of the castle If the Queen willed. but
this has not yet occurred, is she likely
to sanction it. Electric bells and telephones
abound throughout the castle, but electric
light is allowed very limited play.
The coal required for Windsor Castle
chiefly comes from certain collieries in
North Wales, brought i'll train loads of
perhaps five hundred tons at time From
the station it is carted to the castle, in
various parts of which deep and spac-
ious cellars into which it is tipped. Thence
it is conveyed as required to the different
dreds.
Lifts almost unknown in the CASTLE
consequently the coal has to be hoisted
from the cavernous cellars and carried
hither and thither by the coal porters.
The replenishing of the fires is carried out
upon most careful and efficient plan
footmen and other higher servants receiy-
ing the coal from the porters> and passing
1t on to the royal apartments at intervals
throughout the day.
Each official connected with heating and
lighting the castle has his allotted duties
and recognized position and thus the resi-
dence of the highest lady In the land is
lighted and warmed in efficient manner
by many and various processes.