Lowther Castle, Westmoreland ; THE SEAT OF THE EARL OF LONSDALE. THE name of this ancient family, derived from the lordship possessed by them, owes its origin to the river Lowther, or Louder, i. e. the Dark Water, which rolls its course on the west of the Mansion, where they have been settled for many centuries. A great part of Lowther Hall, as it was formerly called, was, however, rebuilt, in 1685, by John, first Viscount Lowther and Lord Privy Seal, who took great pleasure in adorning his residence with paintings of the most eminent artists, and indulged his taste for rural elegance in improving the aspect of the whole country, in embellishing and enriching its noble scenery, by those extensive plantations which he formed and nurtured with the tenderest care. Relieved from the toil and fatigues of public engagements, he experienced a never-failing source of gratification, in the recreation of his garden. The building, excepting two wings, was burnt down in 1720. The late Earl of Lonsdale had intended to erect a new mansion, but it was not commenced until the year 1808, at which time the first stone was laid; and this magnificent castle has been completed, under the direction of the present nobleman, by Robert Smirke, jun. Esq. in a style of architecture which prevailed in England during the 14th century; it is entirely of stone, exceedingly smooth and durable. The principal approach is from the north, through an handsome arched Gateway, with Lodge, &c. which leads to the Entrance Court, a smooth green lawn, intersected with gravel walks, and, on each side, roads, thirty feet broad, rising to the Terrace; it is five hundred feet long and one hundred feet wide, and is enclosed by a high embattled wall, with towers at intervals. From this Court is also a flight of steps, sixty feet wide, opposite the gateway leading to the Terrace. In the centre of the north front is the Hall, sixty feet by thirty feet, entered by a highly embellished porch, under which carriages set down. The Hall opens to the grand staircase, sixty feet square, wholly of stone, as well as the communications to the various apartments which branch from it. The roof, curiously groined, is ninety feet high; the centre is encircled by the following inscription: Edif'. Guls. Com. de Lonsdale anno Regni L° R3 Geo'. с From the staircase, beautiful galleries open on each side, through the centre of the Castle, into passages groined with ribs of stone, and lighted at the ends by windows of stained glass. The apartments on each side the entrance hall on the north front are:-on the right, Lady Lonsdale's room, thirty feet by twentyfour, decorated with scarlet and light green satin; a dressing-room, thirty feet by twenty-one; a bed-chamber; and the Earl of Lonsdale's room, in which are several excellent paintings.-On the left, the Library, forty-five feet by thirty, the decorations of which are entirely of oak; a state bed-chamber, communicating with the groined gallery; and, lastly, offices for his Lordship's agents. The extent of the north front is four hundred and twenty feet, and contains eight lofty turrets. The prospect is open to Penrith beacon-hill, lately planted by the present Earl of Lonsdale; to Saddleback, a hill three thousand and forty-eight feet above the level of the sea; and to the mountains of Scotland. The south front is two hundred and eighty feet in extent; its centre is occupied by the saloon, sixty feet by thirty; it is of oak, richly carved; and the furniture, silk damask light grey.-On the right of the saloon is the diningroom, forty-five feet by twenty-six; the doors and decorations of this apartment are also of oak; the walls are hung with scarlet cloth, with gold enrichments; the curtains are of velvet. In this room is a portrait of the late Earl of Lonsdale. On the left of the saloon is the drawing-room, of the same dimensions as the dining-room, and hung with white satin embroidered with gold. The other rooms on the south front are, the billiard-room on the left of the drawing-room, and the breakfast-room on the right of the dining-room; and branching off at right angles from each extremity of the front, arched open cloisters lead to the stables and riding-house on the left, and to the domestic offices on the right. The prospect on the south extends into a long vista of the Deer Park, with rising grounds and aged forest trees on each side. The Park and Pleasure-grounds which surround this magnificent edifice are of very large extent, and command a variety of prospect and scenery not equalled perhaps in any other part of Great Britain. The great Terrace is near a mile in length, and runs along a brink of a deep limestone cliffe, which overlooks a part of the Park, irregularly scattered with forest trees of immense growth, and well replenished with deer. The park of the Emperor of China, at Gehol, is called, in the language of that country, "Van-shoo-yuen," or, the Paradise of ten thousand, or innumerable, trees. Lord Macartney tells us, he "wandered in it for several hours, and yet was never weary of wandering; for certainly so rich, so various, so beautiful, so sublime a prospect, my eyes had never beheld ;" and concludes his description of that wonderful garden with this observation:-"If any place can be said, in any respect, to have similar features to the western park of Van-shoo-yuen, which I have seen this day, it is at Lowther Hall, in Westmoreland, which (when I knew it many years ago) from the extent of prospect, the grand surrounding objects, the noble situation, the diversity of surface, the extensive woods, and command of water, I thought might be rendered, by a man of sense, spirit, and taste, the finest scene in the British dominions.' The village of Lowther formerly stood before the north front of the present Castle, and consisted of the Hall, Church, and seventeen tenements, with their messuages and cottages. In lieu of this village, he built Lowther New Town, which consists of several neat dwelling-houses, occupied by his agents and mechanics, and a large building, called the College, on account of its being intended as a seminary for the benefit of the northern counties; it was, however, discontinued by Henry, the third Viscount Lowther, while in its probationary state. The Rev. Mr. Wilkinson, of Lazonby, who died in 1752, presided in it, and the Earl of Selkirk and the Duke of Athol were educated here. An ash-tree planted by his lordship is still pointed out. The late Earl of Lonsdale converted this building into a manufactory for stockings, and carpets of strength and lustre little inferior to those of Persia. A few of these were sold from 60 to 100 guineas; but they were wrought chiefly for his Lordship's own use, or to be given, in presents to his friends. The old Rectory of Lowther was a mean edifice. The first Viscount rebuilt this in a handsome style, in a most delightful and secluded situation on the margin of the river Lowther. He exchanged the glebe lands and other revenues of the church greatly to the advantage of the Rector. The church of Lowther was also entirely rebuilt by the same nobleman in 1686; it is finished with a dome and lantern, and stands on a high bank overlooking the Lower, and embosomed with aged trees. The interior is elegant, and it contains several tombs of the noble family of the Founder. The Manor of Lowther, in the time of Henry II. appears to have been divided into three parts; for in that reign Humphrey Machel gave a third part of the church of Lowther to the priory of Carlisle. In 1278, one of these parts was divided between co-heiresses, married to Robert de Morville and Gilbert de Whiteby, and the other two belonged to the priory of Wotton and William de Strickland. It was held of the Clifford family in 1309, by the heir of John de Coupland, Henry de Haverington, Simon de Alve, and the Prior of Wotton; and, in 1314, the moiety of Simon de Alve was held by Hugh de Lowther. In 1332, we find Hugh de Lowther exchanging lands here with Sir Walter de Strickland. 1421, Sir Robert de Lowther held the whole of this Manor by the Cornage of twenty shillings and fourpence: this service, in 1640, is called Holtgeld, i. e. cow tax; by which, and ten shillings yearly for Serjeant food, it is said that two-thirds of this Manor were then held of Francis, Earl of Cumberland; but that one-third was held of Robert Strickland, Esq. by a hawk, or sixpence, yearly. Many of the Manors adjacent have since been purchased by the House of Lowther, who enjoy great influence in this as well as the adjoining county of Cumberland, of both of which the present Earl of Lonsdale is Lord Lieutenant, and his Lordship is also Recorder of Carlisle. |