New-York tribune., 1905-08-07
STATELY PALACE CLOSED FOREVER.


Some time ago statement in these letters to the
effect that a great English noble was willing to
let one of the most beautiful and stately country
seats in England for nothing TO people who would
undertake to keep the place in proper repair,
brought me shoals OF communications from all
parts of the United States and Canada. asking me
for the name both of the nobleman and Of the
country seat with view OF opening communica-
ton with him. The fact Of my mentioning that
several prospective tenants. after going over the
place had declined TO accept the owners offer did
not seem to deter them. If l did not satisfy their
curiosity it is because I could not have done so
without explaining why the owner was so anxious
let his country seat without receiving any rent
in return. Inasmuch. however, as he has now him
self announced the abandonment of the place in
question and his intention of dlsmantllng 1t and OF
closing up forever, likewise adding that it is no
longer suitable for habitation. there can be no
reason for my Withholding any longer the informa-
ton. The country seat in question is Trentham
Hall, in Staffordshire. and the proprietor Is the
greatest landowner in the United Kingdom,
namely, the Duke of Sutherland. The reason for
his abandonment Of Trentham is that the Trent
the third of English rivers-howlng through the
park and through its big lake, has become so
rightfully polluted by the potteries. the factories
the towns and cities along its banks as to poison
the very air of the beautiful Trentham Hall
estates and render them uninhabitable 1t rs for
this reason that this superb palace, ABOUT "hich
the late Lord Beaeonsfeld grew so enthusiastic In
ms novel 'Lothair Is about 20 De uiFeSLeu Oh ali
the treasures with which it is filled from cellar 10
garret. and TO be shut up forever permitted TO fall
into ruin and decay like some of those palaces of
the enchanted prfncesses of the fairy tales. The
grounds, which may be described as masterpieces
of the landscape gardeners art. were laid out by
the celebrated "Capability Brown, while the house.
which Lord Beaconsfield describes in 'Lothar'
IAN italian palace" consists of sort OF amalga-
nation of buildings, dating from the reign
of the Saxon kings down 70 the times OF the Vic
torian architect Sir Charles Barry. In the dining
room hangs that painting by Romney Of the group
of dancing children the first Marquis OF Stafford
the mention OF which in Mrs. Humphry Wards
novel THE Marriage of William Ashe." has ex-
cited such universal condemnation in the English
press
unique feature OF Trentham is the fact that
tbe parish church actually forms part and parcel
or the palace There is many castle in England
with its chapel within the building for the lord
and his retainers and, IT may be, for the villagers
and the passing stranger well. But full
lodged parish church within the precincts OF the
nslaca Is a dignity TO which the masters of Trent
ham have until now. alone among British mobiles,
eon bIe 10 Law claim And IL is a very old church.
antedatfng indeed the palace itself. In fact,
9, ys,orburgh sister OF Ethelred the King was abb
tass NJ a nunnery in connection with this church.
"a she died A. D. 6s9 while the plain columns
- tho nave date from the days of William the
conouerer The church administered by
Ae,stinian canons until the days of the Reforma-