The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-29
CASTLE BUILT ON SAND.

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a sandstone cliff looking down on gilt
tering expanse Of sea: sheltered by groves
Of evergreen oak Il catches all the sun
shine. reminding those who have been
there OF the Riviera and the Mediter-
ranean Sea. Though eminently salubri-
Gus. the situation is quite as pretty as a
poem-a castle in wood by the sea could
scarcely fail 10 be otherwise. The motto
on the castle is equally felicitous.
Suave mari magao turbantibus sequora vents.
z terra longm alterius sIectare laborem
The lines are from Lucretius, and are
carved in great stone letters, so as to
form A sort Of Parapet along the roof Of
the garden wing. Visitors 10 Dunferm-
line Abbey may remember having noticed
King Robert the Bruce" carved In just
such a fashion round the four sides OF the
high tower: Its sweet when the storm
winds lash the waves on a wide sea 10
watch from the shore another's sore dis
tress." a man who means 10 enjoy his
security and peace could choose no pref
tier motto for his duelling for the knOwl-
edge that there still was labor somewhere
made even The lotus eaters dream more
complete
The story OF Highcliffe Is the story. not
without the moral OF the house that was
built upon sand. II ever there was a cas-
tie in the air il was here. where the site
Of the original building is in the en-
pyrean, the sea having gradually eaten
away more and more Of the land and
more and more Of the cliff having fallen
into the sea. till the edge Of the present
cliff is what was formerly an inland
field, quite removed from the wind and
the sea. Highcliffe was originally pur-
chased by the Third Lord Butte, who want
ed "a house by the sea. Luton and Lans-
downe house. his other houses. were built
in a classic Adams design. and Adams was
the style he chose again for the castle in
the air. though whether its site be now
in the air or below In the sea it were hard
10 say, as seagulls and sailing boats now
pass over what was once dry land Lord
Butte was remembered locally by place
on the cliff always called Lord Bute's
Cap" while another spot was long point
ed out as where he broke his leg; in cor
recting a refractory dog he had lost his
balance and fallen some way down the
cliff
Meantime the coast erosion grew worse
and worse, the cliff was declared unsafe,
50 that there was nothing left but 10
pun down the house OF Adams design,
otherwise IL would have fallen into the
sea. The property was now sold 10 an
Old Mr.. Penleaze, a man of means. who
came by his wealth m a curious way. A
relative died and left him an old cooked
hattie relative must have laughed in
his sleeve when he made his will-Mr.
PenleaZe Tor his part being naturally a
good deal Chagrined. until he examined
his little memento. and found II was
packed 10 the brIm with gold. How
much gold a cooked hat viii hold is not
known, but il must nave been enough to
buy Highclife, whereUpon Mr.. Penieaze
forgave his whimsical relative. and en-
tered into his kingdom.
Lord Stuart de Rothesay was the next
owner. he bought back the place. and
built the present castle on the site chosen
by Mr.. Penleaze. DOmthorne was the
architect nov employed, a lesser light
thln Adams. and who seems 70 have
g used his patrons no little worry and
al noyance. as when left 10 himself his
fancy was apt 10 run riot In this way
some wholly superfiuOus uinarets and
towers were added by no means IN keep
ing with tho rest OF the design. Fools
build houses. IL is said. but doubtless
Domthorne had a difficult task. as High
cline IS a puzzle 70 most architects. and
quite Un-English in appearance: there
are large. long windows and a great deal
OF elaborate stonework. II looks more
like a castle in a fairy story than the
country house by the sea Domthorne had
been instructed 10 build. The stone cary
ing came from France, from the little
town OF Les Andelys. on the Seine. and
belonged TO the mayors house.
For some reason this house was demol-
ished, and Lord Stuart de Rothesay.
CHANGING 20 pass by. and seeing SO much
exquisite stonework discarded and treat
ed as naught bcthOught him OF his house
on the cliff in Hampshire. Between
Domthorne with his minarets. and the ex-
pense OF bringing all the heavy stone
work across the sea. the modern High
cliffe Castle took every one by surprise
though only strangers now notice the
fantastic nature Of the building.
The chief feature inside the castle is
lofty hall. and two long fights Of stairs.
also some stained glass windows that
Lady Waterford helped 70 adjust. The
history of a house must be In part the
history OF the people who have lived
there. and putting aside the royal per
sonages who have come and gone, High
clide viii always be associated locally
with Louisa, Narchioness OF Waterford
She and Lady Canning were sisters. both
daughters Of Lord Stuart de Rothesay.
and here. after her husbands death. Lady
Waterford spent most OF her time. when
she yss not at Ford. her other home in
NorthUmb erland. Every one loved her in
the country round about; some OF the
older village folk speak lovingly Of her
still- She painted at night by lamplight.
while Augustus Hare read aloud. That
vOr2ciOuS storyteller was nowhere more
at home than at Highcliffe Castle. and.
like many more people. returned 10 the
place again and again