The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-30
CASTLES OF
THE MARCH
Raby and Vanes
Of Historical
: Memory.
ART TREASURES
ON BORDER WALLS
Most Famous Of the Old Feud;
Piles and the VI ages
About II.

IL
from earliest times the scene of
= many a conflict in the border
| warfare with the Scots and suffered
more than the southern and midland
counties in the Wars of the Roses. The
great lords of the marches had huge
castles commensurate with their digni-
ty, but most of these have long ago
crumbled in ruins and serve only to
tell the story of the past. Among the
best preserved of these ancient fort
resses is Raby Castle, the home of the
Nevilles and the Vanes. When Crom-
well made his famous expedition into
Scotland in 1850 his cannon destroyed
many Of the border castles since they
were possessed by royalist partisans,
but Raby escaped, as the home of Sir
Henry Vane, father and son. This state
ly old pile continues to us an excellent
example of baronial residence of feud-
al times. The old moat remains be-
of the castle is filled with water as of
yore. The drawbridge has been re-
moved and a substantial stone structure
the pOTlcuillS has dlSO
disappeared. though the grooves in the
masonry are plainly to be seen; old
windows and loopholes have been en-
larged and new windows cut in the
walls from time to time, but aside from
these changes. the exterior is much the
same as in early days. 1t is authentical-
ly stated that the castle is built upon
the site of a mansion formerly occupied
by King Canute. Parsons History of
Durham" states that the greater part
of the castle was constructed by John
de Neville in 1879. 1t remained in the
possession of that family till forfeited
by Charles Neville, sixth Earl of West
moreland, in 1870, when it reverted to
the crown. Afterward James / ordered
the property sold and it was purchaS-
ed by Sir Henry Vane the Elder, who
in Charles rs day espoused the Par
liamentary side. Young Sir Henry
passed his youth here and is remem-
bered by Americans as at one time
Royal Governor of New England. His
portrait hangs in the old Boston Mu-
scum He was one of England's great
men, being far in advance of his times.
An ardent opponent of the absolutlsm
of Charles, he consistently opposed
Cromwell's usurpations, and when he
arose in Parliament to protest at the
high-handed measures of the Lord Pro-
tector, Cromwell cried out, "Sir Harry
Vane, Sir Harry Nane; the Lord deliver
me from Sir Harry Vanet" 1t will be
remembered that Vane was beheaded
soon after the Restoration, but his son,
Christopher, was knighted by Charles
II and the estate still remains in the
possession of the family.
On our visit to Raby we passed in al
the only entrance on the north side be-
tween two square towers. We were
now in the outer area of the castle but
every inch of the space is commanded
by towers and turrets from which a be-
sieging force could be held at bay. We
entered a second gateway, where car
riages may be driven, and found our
selves in a spacious Gothic saloon hung
| with old weapons and armor AT the
right fight of steps leads to the pres
ence chamber. In the absence of Lord
Barnard and his family, the living
apartments were shown us-the draw
| ing room, the octagon, the dining room
In which the family plate of solid gold
| was displayed, and the great baronial
hail. where in feudal times the old earls
of the Neville line Toasted with the ''70C
knights who held of that ilk." A long
| line of ancestral portraits of the differ
ent lords and ladies of Raby looked
down from the walls. The west end OF
| this hall was crossed by a gallery fol-
musicians which was often used in the
lolden days for dramatic representations
| This gallery has in recent years been
cut in two for the purpose of making
room for large double door and from
thence grand staircase has been con-
structed 20 the floor below Adjoining
this door is the chapel where the fam
| lily and servants of the household gath,
ler each morning for prayers read by the
canon of Staindrop or his curate. The
| great keep Is fortress in itself, and
here the lord and his retainers co,llc
| hold off their enemies even though they
| posses sed the remainder of the castle
| Underneath is deep well still used fol
water supply and near by is door
leading to the dungeons and vaults be-
low. Here Is the ancient kitchen,
huge affair still in daily use, and from
hence is an underground passage wnlcf
is said to extend to the parish churcf
in Staindrop, mile distant. The va
rious rooms and halls contain man.
works of art collected during the cen
t2ries the castle has stood, and ther
are many relics that tell of the giorie
OF past years. We saw the regalia
the order of the garter belonging TO IN
Dukes of Cleveland-an unusual sign
we were told, as these costly emblem
usually revert to the crown on III
death of the possessor. Lord Barnard
who has succeeded the late duke q
owner of the estates, is of a younge
lbranch of the family, and does not SUI
coed to the title of duke, being bare
lonly I ought to mention that the eel
brated marble statue of The Gree