For today’s Historic Houses’ Medieval Monday we caught up with Interpretation and Engagement Assistant, Lauren to gain an insight into one of Raby’s oldest and most popular features – the Great Kitchen. Still a fully functioning kitchen up until the 1950s, many of the medieval features seen today have been adapted and modernised throughout the years. Understand how the space would have originally been used for serving 14th century noble families, such as the Nevilles, with the help of quotes from the 4th Duchesses’ Handbook.
‘A right ancient and singular relic of the genuine baronial time.’
‘The most curious part of the whole Castle, for it has been scarcely altered from what it was when the great banquets of the feudal ages were served from it.’
-4th Duchesses’ Handbook
Architecture
Built in the 1360s, as part of the development of the castle likely to have been carried out by Master Mason John Lewyn, the Great Kitchen is a grand room which fills the Kitchen Tower. It was probably originally a separate structure from the rest of the Castle, to prevent the risk of fire spreading and avoid any kitchen smells reaching the house.
A passage is cut in the thickness of the walls encircling the kitchen, which served two purposes. Defensively, it allowed men-at-arms to keep watch through the original arrow slits, which were later widened into the current windows. It also provided access to the Barons’ Hall for serving food.
The high, arched ceiling and ventilation shaft in the centre of the roof allowed for smoke and heat to escape, while encouraging the circulation of cool air. A similar, more ornate ceiling in the Prior’s Kitchen at Durham Cathedral was also likely to be the work of John Lewyn.
‘An ox might easily be roasted whole at one of these vast furnaces, and I have no doubt many have been so roasted in the old days, when spits mighty enough for the purpose could be put into requisition.’
Use
Cooking was originally done on four open fires, with meat roasted on spits turned by small boys or dogs on tread wheels. Great kitchens in medieval households were principally staffed by men, due to the strength needed for larger-scale catering. The most junior servant in a medieval kitchen was the scullion. They washed cooking utensils and dishes, and cleaned and swept the service rooms and courtyards. In the later centuries, these jobs belonged to a scullery maid. Numbers of women servants began to grow from the fifteenth century, but whilst by the sixteenth century female servants were more common, this was not in positions of major responsibility.
During the Middle Ages, sides of meat were hung from the beams that run along the corners of the room, which protected them from vermin and helped with preservation, as they became lightly smoked hanging above the fires. Kitchen staff had access to many basic variations of cooking utensils available today, such as frying pans, pots and kettles. Other tools more specific to cooking over an open fire were the spits of various sizes and material to skewer different types of meat. There were also cranes with adjustable hooks, so cooks could move pots away from the open flame and prevent burning.
‘Having little or no communication with the neighbouring town, the lord and his vassals were forced to provide and keep in store for themselves the necessaries of life.’
Auxiliary Rooms
A medieval kitchen would be connected to several other service rooms needed for storing and producing food. This includes a larder for preserving food, a cellar for wine, and a variety of store-rooms. A buttery (originating from the same word as ‘bottle’) was a store for beer and wine, and a pantry (from the work ‘pain’ which is French for bread) was to keep bread and perishables. A butler would oversee the buttery, whose role in the medieval times was to see that cups were clean, people’s drinks were topped up and the table was laid.
Developments in technology throughout the centuries altered the roles of those working in kitchens, enhanced food preservation capabilities and increased cooking speed. In the 19th century, one of the fires was replaced by a cast iron range which used heat convection to turn the spit: a spinning fan in the chimney drove a ratchet, which turned a spindle, which kept the spit rotating. In the 20th century, a more modern stove-top range was installed, but the outline of the original medieval fireplace is still visible behind it.
‘It is, in fact, those old towers, those old courts, the great baronial hall, and the kitchen, that are the objects of real interest at Raby; remnants of its antiquity, the contemporaries of those who stamped them with the feeling of belonging to them and to their fortunes.’
News
Coats of Arms
This week, as part of Historic Houses’ Medieval Mondays theme, our new Interpretation and Engagement Assistant, Lauren Foster has been exploring the medieval coats of arms that can be found around Raby Castle.
Coats of Arms
The use of coats of arms dates back to the 11th century. Initially limited to warrior chieftains, by the 12th century, they became more commonly used by feudal lords and knights. Over time, they have become synonymous with a family name and passed down through generations.
Heraldry
Heraldry is a method of communicating identity from a coat of arms and was initially used to enable knights to identify each other on the battlefield. Different colours, divisions and patterns indicated different traits. For example, heraldic crosses or dissections of a shield could represent protection and defence, and certain colours represented bravery or wisdom. As heraldry evolved, it became more important to represent family lineage, so arms are quartered, this showed two families who have joined in marriage.
At Raby Castle once you start looking, coats of arms can be found everywhere; from archives, wall paintings, and day-to-day items in the collection to stained glass windows, the architecture and carriages.
Examples of Raby Coats of Arms: The Neville Gateway
Above is the usual open machicolation, and just beneath it are three shields – 1st, Neville; 2nd, St. George; 3rd, Latimer – each encircled by the Order of the Garter, which Lord Neville received in 1369. These shields of arms carved in stone were a common North country practice…’
– 4th Duchess of Cleveland, 1870
A surviving example of Raby Castle’s medieval coats of arms, belonging to the Neville family, can be seen on the Neville Gateway, created during work to improve fortifications in the fourteenth century.
(c) Katie Glover
On the left is the Neville Coat of Arms, described in heraldry as ‘Gules, a saltire Argent.’ This in layman’s terms stands for ‘Red, with a white diagonal cross.’ Red traditionally was the colour of a warrior or patriot, and silver or white (argent) represents peace or wisdom.
When Geoffrey ‘de Neville’ inherited the estates of his mother’s family as well as his fathers, he adopted his mother’s surname ‘Neville.’ He inherited significant land from his mother’s family, and use of her Norman name was socially and politically advantageous in Norman-ruled England. In return, he kept his father FitzMaldred’s Coat of Arms.
The centre Coat of Arms is St. George. The familiar red cross on a white background became associated with St. George from the Late Middle Ages, who was depicted as a military saint and had ties to the Crusades. The Order of the Garter’s Arms is a cross of St George, surrounded by the Garter.
The Coat of Arms on the right belongs to the Latimer family, described in heraldry as ‘Gules, a cross patonce or.’ Gules is again the red background. A cross patonce is the type of cross with embellishments on the end, and ‘or’ means gold. This is said to signify wisdom, generosity and faith.
This Coat of Arm’s represents Lord John Neville’s second wife Elizabeth Latimer, the daughter and heiress of William Latimer, the 4th Baron Latimer.
Each Coat of Arms is surrounded by a garter, the emblem of The Order of the Garter. John Neville, the 3rd Baron Neville, was made a Knight of the Garter in 1369. This was one of the most senior orders of chivalry and was awarded in recognition of a national contribution. For the 3rd Baron, this was awarded for his political and military efforts in France and Scotland on behalf of the Crown. The Garter is inscribed with the order’s motto ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’ (Shame on him who thinks evil of it.)
Other Medieval Coats of Arms around Raby
Within the Raby Chapel are stained glass armorial panels depicting the Arms of the Nevilles. In the image below, on the right is again, the Neville Coat of Arms. In the centre is the Arms of the Kingdom from 1340-1377. King Edward III quartered the royal arms of England with the ancient arms of France to signal his claim to the French throne. The English sections contain three golden lions on a red field. The French sections contain fleurs-de-lis on a blue field- blue being symbolic of piety and sincerity.
On the left is a representation of the Neville Bull holding the Neville Arms. The bull’s head is the crest of the Neville family and can be found dotted around the castle. This motif was originally carved into the Barbican Gateway, which was then moved to Raby Home Farm in the 18th century. A crest can be found at the top of a more detailed coat of arms. A bull symbolises bravery and generosity, and represents the Neville’s Bulmer ancestry. Geoffrey de Neville in 1176 married Emma de Bulmer, who was heiress to the joint largest estate in County Durham at the time. This greatly attributed to the size and power of the Nevilles’ Estate.
The Neville bull was a popular feature within Raby’s Visitor Books, in which guests to the castle were required to leave an artistic contribution related to their time spend at Raby. We particularly enjoy the depiction of the bull waltzing into the castle ‘to ruffle it, with ye Gallants of Raby’!
(c) Raby Estates
To find out more about our fascinating collections and interiors within Raby Castle, visit our blog.
Raby Castle’s latest exciting attraction, The Plotters’ Forest, is the perfect place to reap the many benefits of playing in nature for children.
Claire Jones, Head of Leisure and Tourism at Raby Estates, said:
“In the modern world, ‘immersive play experiences within nature can be hard to find – we’ve all heard the depressing statistics about children spending less time outdoors. But the benefits of outdoor play are so well-documented that we committed to this approach early on. It just seemed to fit perfectly with everything we believe here at Raby.”
So what exactly are the major benefits of playing outdoors? Read on to find out.
Credit – Visit County Durham
Outdoor play encourages a range of physical, mental and wellbeing benefits
Not only is outdoor play beneficial for children’s activity levels and physical health, it can also improve their mental focus. Countless studies have pointed out the connection between children’s exercise levels and their concentration span: one possible reason for the growing interest in Forest School approaches, particularly in Early Years settings.
And there are plenty of other physical, mental and wellbeing benefits to outdoor play, including helping children get their daily dose of vitamin D – vital for healthy bones – to maintaining a healthy sleep cycle – essential for growing bodies and brains.
There’s also the fact that playing in the sunshine has been found to increase serotonin levels, boosting energy and encouraging positive moods, while simultaneously reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol. One recent British study reported that children’s stress and anxiety could be reduced after just five minutes of playing outdoors!
Credit – @jayneyfaygs
Outdoor play engages the senses
Sensory play has long been recognised as the gold standard in the world of children’s development. It helps build nerve connections in the brain, encourages mastery of gross and fine motor skills, helps with language and cognitive development and can even support children in controlling their emotions.
Outdoor play tends to be a far more varied yet gentle sensory experience compared to indoor equivalents. In The Plotters’ Forest, children can smell and touch the pine trees, hear bird calls and buzzing insects and enjoy the rich and varied colours of the natural world. Getting close to tantrum territory? We recommend getting outside for some natural stimulation, and enjoying some sunlight on skin, a gentle breeze or collecting leaves to compare scents and textures.
Outdoor play encourages creativity and imagination
In The Plotters’ Forest, there’s plenty of fun equipment which youngsters can use to create mayhem and mischief: giant musical instruments, spinning signposts, Plotters’ Portraits, Talking Tubes and more. However, there’s also lots of open space designed to foster more inventive, creative play – tunnels, towers, stargazing decks – where little ones can let their imaginations run wild.
Claire Jones explained the decision-making process:
“After lots of research and discussion, we decided that the best kind of outdoor play strikes a fine balance between structured and unstructured activity.”
“We wanted to give children the best of both worlds: a stimulating environment, with plenty of freedom for wilder play. We thought back to our own childhoods, and felt the days we’d spent making up our own games and rules were amongst the best play experiences we’d had! We wanted to make sure our young visitors could feel something of that freedom, too.”
And beyond simply having fun, creative play is also another great way to help build neurological connections, develop language and more vital skills.
Outdoor play helps children engage with nature
The Plotters’ Forest was designed with the natural environment at its heart. Built as sustainably as possible, visitors will discover natural materials sourced from Raby’s sustainably managed woodland.
And instead of the plastic and garish colours found in many playgrounds, Raby Rebels will find natural shades of green and red inspired by nature’s palette.
Claire Jones added:
“We decided to weave the play equipment through the existing trees and around natural clearings because we wanted to respect the forest and the wildlife it sustains.”
“We hope that The Plotters’ Forest will provoke thoughts and questions about the woodland environment and the life it supports, and foster the kind of curiosity about the world we love to see in young people.”
Credit – @the_griffiths_kids_
The Plotters’ Forest will also be available for exclusive hire, giving teachers, parents and other youth groups the opportunity to deepen youngsters’ connection with the great outdoors. Private visits can be tailored to particular interests or a curriculum focus – for example, minibeasts or the seasons – in an inspiring and engaging manner.
Claire added:
“Of course, play is our primary focus – we want children of all ages to enjoy our plotters’ paradise. But we also recognise that there’s also a valuable opportunity to use play as a gateway to a more profound appreciation and understanding of the world, our wildlife and woodland ecosystems.”
Tickets for The Plotters Forest are now available. To find out more and to book tickets please visit here. For private hire enquiries, contact admin@raby.co.uk
News
Share your Story
We need your help!
Every day we discover new fascinating stories about the family at Raby, as we establish our archives and collections. We want to invite visitors to share their stories and memories with us, to help us uncover more about the hard-working individuals who kept the castle and estate running. From those who kept Raby clean and the guests fed, to those who kept the gardens maintained and cared for the horses in the stables. We want to build an insight into how local, working people interacted with the castle and its family throughout its history.
If you’ve got a story to share, please get in touch and email admin@raby.co.uk
What are we looking for?
We are looking for anyone who might have stories about people who have worked at Raby Castle over time. Is there a relative, or someone you know, who worked at the castle? Were they a gardener, a tenant, a housekeeper or a scullery maid perhaps?
We are interested if you have been told about what they experienced day-to-day, or if you have any interesting stories about their time at the castle. Better still, if you have any pictures or mementos from their time here, such as diaries, letters, or other primary source material, this will help us to learn about their experiences first-hand.
Staff in Coal Yard
How will my story be used?
We are hoping to increase our understanding and create an ever-growing catalogue of people who worked here throughout the years. We also aim to use some of these stories for an upcoming exhibit as part of The Rising developments, which will offer more detail about the workers at Raby Castle.
Why are you doing this project?
We want to tell the story of all the different kinds of people associated with Raby, helping us to offer new interpretations of the castle’s history. We have some basic archival sources available, such as wage slips from the late 18 and early 1900s. These tell us names and roles, but nothing about the people or their lives.
Jack Armstrong, Head Gardener 1950s onwards (award for growing sweet peas at Raby Castle)
How can I help?
If you have any information you think might be of interest, please contact admin@raby.co.uk with brief details about you and your person of interest. You don’t need to have full story, any information about your person and their role will help us add to our existing knowledge, and help to remember everyone’s contribution to Raby.
We aim to respond to everyone throughout the summer and keep you informed as to how and when we will use your stories.
We understand that by providing any information, you are consenting for us to use it in future interpretation and projects, including The Rising. Please let us know if that is not the case.
We’re looking forward to hearing more stories such as Lucy Beattie’s, who was the Gatekeeper in the 1900s and a much-loved member of the Raby family.
Raby Cricket Club 1951- Arthur Galilee and his father Jack Galilee (pictured). Both worked at Raby where Jack was a Groom.
News
Meet Raby’s New Head Gardener
As our ground-breaking Rising developments gather pace, we have welcomed a host of new team members to Raby including new Head Gardener Tim Marshall. Tim will be working alongside World-class Italian garden designer, Luciano Giubbilei and Landscape Architect, Alistair Baldwin to bring our Walled Garden vision to life. We caught up with Tim to find out about his background and how he plans to approach this exciting project.
Where did you career take you before joining Raby?
I have been working in horticulture for the last 27 years, 23 of those years as a head gardener. I started my career at Scampston Hall in North Yorkshire where I worked with the international garden designer, Piet Oudolf transforming the walled garden. After Scampston I moved to North Norfolk where I worked on the Holkham Estate, initially as the head gardener but was later promoted to the position of landscape manager which also included the management of the forestry. I left Holkham to work with Tom Stuart-Smith on a project in the Thames Valley, just outside Henley on Thames. On completion of this project I was asked to work in Jordan with Arne Maynard to help regenerate the private gardens of the King and Queen. After a number of years I returned back to the UK to work for the Bamford family on the Daylesford Estate as the garden manager. Following this I was asked to lead a large horticultural project on the Island of Nevis in the Caribbean, designed by Arne Maynard. After a number of years in the Caribbean I decided with my family that we wanted to head back to the UK for a stable life and to enrol my daughter in the educational system. Though before this was possible, I was requested once again to return to Jordan to help with a very large landscape installation in the South of the country. After a year working on this project, I took up the opportunity to move back to the UK and start an exciting position on the Raby Estate.
(c) Peter Gunton
Which of your skills do you feel will be most valuable in the Gardens renovation?
I am a self-confessed plantaholic, which I feel will come in handy with this project. My eye for detail is excellent, which will certainly be necessary, along with my strong management skills after many years of organising challenging workloads.
Tell us more about The Rising development and the changes throughout the gardens?
The Rising development within the gardens will involve a complete redesign of the garden areas but retaining the key historic features and some of the larger original plants for continuity. The development will bring the gardens to the pinnacle of modern design. The main walled garden areas will be designed by Luciano Giubbilei and the outer landscaped areas by Alistair Baldwin, both of which are top-level garden designers.
CGI of the Duchess’ Walk
What will your role include?
The main purpose of my role will be to interact with the construction team and designers on the new project, to ensure the design is implemented and completed as Lord and Lady Barnard envisage. Also making sure that any remaining garden areas are kept to a high specification for visitors to enjoy throughout the construction period.
Who will you be working with?
My role will transect across the whole of the estate, working with all departments at any given time. With the Rising project I will be working closely with Lord and Lady Barnard, the designers, contractors, the construction team and the in-house gardens team.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
Getting stuck into the new developments and seeing the site transform into a major inspirational tourist attraction for County Durham and the North East.
Why Raby?
Raby is the best of both worlds. It is an amazing remnant of the past history of the North of England providing a time capsule of how life was, but also how diversification in the present age can be highly successful and inspiring.
As the Rising development begins to gather pace at Raby Castle, we are undertaking a significant recruitment drive to find new team members to join us on this exciting journey.
We’d like to welcome new Assistant Site Manager, Damien Jones and Traffic Marshall, Aidan Armstrong to the construction team, along with Joiners, Mark Jeremiah, Victoria Mills and Labourer, Daniel Dickson. Joining the buildings project team we welcome Skilled Tradesperson, Jon Rogers, Labourer, Aidan Braithwaite and Ian Hutchinson as our new Decorating Supervisor.
Assistant Site Manager, Damien Jones, Head Gardener, Tim Marshall, Joiner, Victoria Mills and Traffic Marshall, Aidan Armstrong
The castle team will see the introduction of our new Head Gardener, Tim Marshall who will be leading on our re-development of the Walled Gardens, alongside World-class Italian Garden Designer Luciano Giubbilei and Landscape Architect, Alistair W Baldwin Associates. The curatorial and archives team have also got a new addition of Interpretation and Engagement Assistant, Lauren Foster, who will be helping to engage the public in Raby’s story.
Congratulations to long-serving admissions team member, Jackie Deeming who is taking up a full time position with us at the castle. Paul Green has moved from the gardens team to his new role as Grounds Maintenance Assistant, Lindsay De Martino is moving to a new Retail Assistant role and Emma Dodgson is moving to a permanent General Assistant position. It is fantastic to see so many existing employees developing their careers within Raby.
Our new Visitor Services Assistant, Michelle Fenwick will provide a friendly face as the first point of contact for visitors. We’d also like to welcome a host of new General Assistants across our hospitality areas, to provide the public with a wonderful experience, Tyler Macauley-Lockett, Eden Woodland, Emily Barker, Lydia Newberry, Rosie Bell, Susan Newcombe, Maisy Newberry, Keira Chippendale, Morag Meldrum and at High Force Hotel, Jessica Wearmouth. Charlie Butler will be joining the High Force team as Catering Assistant as well as Amanda Falshaw our new Duty Manager.
Grounds Maintenance Assistant, Paul Green, HR & Recruitment Assistant, Stephanie Bell, Visitor Services Assistant, Michelle Fenwick and Admissions Team Member, Jackie Deeming
Across the wider estate, we’d like to say a big hello to our new Land Agent Charlotte Marrison who has recently started with us. Last, but not least, in our Staindrop Office in Durham, we’d like to welcome Stephanie Bell, our new HR and Recruitment Assistant, who will be helping us to attract even more people to the team. This year we sadly bid farewell to Bertie Bainbridge, Gardener at Selaby Hall, Ben Hall, our Finance Project Manager, Sue Matthews, Manager at Langdon Beck and Tom Birtles, our Shropshire Land Agent who are moving on to pastures new. Thank you to Bertie, Ben, Sue and Tom for all of their support at Raby and we wish them all well in future endeavours.
If you’d like to join the Raby team, have a look at our current vacancies.
Our Chapel at Raby Castle is much loved by visitors. In her first month at Raby Castle, Lauren Foster, our new Interpretation and Engagement Assistant gets to grips with the complex history and architecture of this tranquil space, as part of Historic Houses’ #FeatureFriday. Read on to find out more.
This ancient chapel, which was then in a ruinous and neglected state, was repaired and refitted for divine service by Henry 2nd Duke of Cleveland in 1848. Further restoration and decoration was effected by Henry 9th Baron Barnard in 1901 and 1908.’ -Inscription from Chapel Arcade
Raby’s Chapel was built during the early 14th century, but has undergone a number of significant changes since. The 4th Duchess of Cleveland, writing in 1870, describes the area as previously ‘entirely neglected, the casements unglazed and boarded up, and even some of the stonework of the windows in a crumbling state. The wild birds roosted and built their nests there, and for those without wings the only possible entrance was by a ladder through one of the windows,’ before the 2nd Duke’s intervention in the 19th century.
The Chapel emphasises the importance of religious service and divine representation to the families who have owned the castle. The architecture and design offer an insight into changing priorities and design preferences throughout generations.
The ribbed vault roof of the chancel features an early vaulting technique, indicating the age of the original Chapel structure. Quadripartite vaulting appeared during the High Gothic period and is found in Cathedrals from the 13th century onwards.
Changes and Restorations
Floors:
In 1780, the floor of the Chapel was raised by architect John Carr during the construction of the carriageway through Entrance Hall below. Whilst considered an ‘unorthodox transformation’ by some, the unique means of accessing the castle provided a strong first impression. In the mid-19th century, following the 2nd Duke’s interest in repairing the chapel, William Burn was entrusted with restoration and lowered the floor again.
Windows:
‘The Chapel… originally lighted by a large five-light window to the west, the tracery of which covered a large part of the wall – some say, nearly the whole of it. This, of course, had to be closed with masonry on the erection of the Baron’s Hall, with the east wall of which it then became incorporated.’
Catherine Lucy Wilhelmina, 4th Duchess of Cleveland, writing in 1870
The window of the South Altar was covered over in the 17th century, and only reopened in 1901 when the East Window was inserted. Plans drawn up in 1899 for the 9th Baron Barnard, emphasise the importance of ‘old stone to be used as far as possible,’ and the restoration to be ‘exact copy of old work.’ The window tracery (the stonework elements supporting the glass in the window) in the south alter window is original but has been heavily restored.
Arcade:
The arcade at the rear of the Chapel would have previously been unglazed, and had wooden shutters to be closed for privacy. They could have been opened for members of the household to watch services from the Baron’s Hall on the other side. The arcade was filled up and is now decorated with early 20th century portraits of important figures from the Neville period.
Highlights for visitors to look out for
Some objects and art within the Chapel are of both personal and historic significance to the Raby Family, highlighting themes of remembrance and loyalty.
Memorial cross:
The Memorial Cross within the Chapel commemorates the Honourable Henry Cecil Vane, the eldest son of the 9th Lord and Lady Barnard. Henry was a Captain in the Royal Field Artillery and injured in battle in France during the First World War. He died of his injuries in a Rouen hospital in October 1917 and was buried in the nearby St. Sever cemetery.
Pew ends:
The carved ends of the pews depict heraldic supporters of the Arms of the Duke of Cleveland. These are the figures shown holding up the shield in a coat of arms. In this case, lions and hounds to represent courage and loyalty.
Arcade:
In 1901, the 9th Lord Barnard uncovered the medieval arcade, and commissioned portraits to celebrate Raby during the period of the Neville family. The artist took inspiration from tomb effigies and stained-glass windows to try and make accurate depictions of the historic figures. Though more contemporary, these images offer an important representation of the Neville family. Very little evidence exists in the castle from the time of the Nevilles, after losing the castle due to the failed Rising of the North.
Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland (1364-1425)
Born at Raby Castle, Ralph Neville played a significant role in the defence of the northern border, as well as in determining the course of the monarchy under King Richard II and King Henry IV. The Earl of Westmorland is also portrayed in Shakespeare’s Henry plays as being influential in many strategic military manoeuvres. His effigy in Staindrop church depicts him in between his two wives.
Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland (1379-1440)
Ralph Neville’s second wife and daughter of John of Gaunt, father of Henry IV. Her marriage to Ralph Neville produced nine children who survived into adulthood, including Cecily the ‘Rose of Raby.’ By the time of her death, Joan was the mother of an earl, three barons, a countess, three duchesses and a bishop.
Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham (c1310- 1381)
One of the last warrior bishops, he served under Edward III. In 1378 he granted John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville, permission to fortify his property at Raby. This gave him licence to ‘make a castle of his manor of Raby, and to embattle and crenelate its towers.’
John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville (c. 1337- 1388)
Father of Ralph Neville. The fortification and expansion of Raby Castle begun under Lord John, who served as Admiral of the North. He played a key role in peace negotiations with Scotland in the 1380s.
Cecily Neville, Duchess of York (1415-1495)
Wife of Richard, Duke of York and mother of Kings Edward IV and Richard III. Born at Raby Castle, Cecily bore twelve children and weathered the Wars of the Roses. Her granddaughter Elizabeth of York married the Tudor King Henry VII in 1486, meaning all subsequent English and British monarchs are descendants of Cecily and Richard. (You can find out more about the ‘Rose of Raby,’ including her famous betrothal, in our other blogs.)
From left to right, Ralph Neville, Joan Beaufort, Thomas Hatfield, John Neville and Cecily Neville.
Stained Glass:
The Chapel contains some impressive early stained glass ranging from 12th century French glass from the Abbey of St. Denis, an ancient burial place of French monarchs, to 16th century German. Others were inserted by the 9th Lord Barnard as part of renovations in the early 20th century. It is still a mystery as to how the early glass found its’ way to Raby Castle.
The below pictures show stained glass depicting the Arms of the Dukes of Cleveland (first image), and the Arms of the Nevilles (second image).
The middle figure in the above stained glass is German, dated 16th century, and depicts one of the Three Magi (also known as the three wise men) kneeling.
The middle figure below is The Prophet Isaiah proclaiming the birth of Christ. This is from the Abbey Church of St. Denis in France, dated 12th century. He is flanked by two 16th century Swiss panels from a church at Mettmenstetten, near Zurich. The left shows St. Leogardus, a 7th century Burgundian bishop and martyr. The right depicts St. Bernard, the founder of the Cistercian order and St. Robartus, who later reformed it.
Alongside the impressive design features, the Chapel retained its function as a place of worship. The 4th Duchess, writing in 1870 describes ‘a service in this Chapel every morning at a quarter past nine, and every Sunday evening at ten o’clock during the time that the family resides here.’ The Chapel is also still occasionally used by the family. Today, visitors can explore the chapel and learn more about the history from our knowledgeable room guides during castle opening hours.
The castle is open seasonally (March – October) Wednesday – Sunday from 11am. During the summer the castle is also open on a Tuesday. Find out more and book tickets.
Winter and early spring provides the season for tree planting, and in addition to the thousands of saplings which are replanted across the estates’ woodlands and biodiversity schemes, this year will see an increase in new trees on the parkland at Raby.
After the devastation of three successive storms this winter, sadly we have seen widespread damage and lost several mature trees from the parkland, some of which date back to the early phases of planting, over 180 years ago. The forestry and estates maintenance team have risen to the challenge and have worked to clear the initial damage and make the park safe for visitors.
The sheer size and age of the trees involved has itself added to the task, requiring both skill and care to undertake safely. Specialist contractors, Dryad Arb were engaged to reduce some of the large trees on the approach to Raby Castle which stood at over 30m in height. As part of this work, split and damaged timber was removed from the upper branches of the trees, which would be out of reach for most traditional arboricultural equipment. Crown reduction, a process by which the weight and surface area of the branches and upper limbs of the trees are reduced, was then undertaken to improve the long-term resilience of the trees and improve their potential to withstand future storms.
A significant task is still in hand to deal with the remaining windblown stems, and where possible, some of the timber will be cut and re-purposed for use in the exciting developments and wider parkland. In a plan to keep a continuity of trees on the Parkland, several oaks and limes will be planted this season to provide a
growing resource that will in time, develop into towering, mature specimens for future generations to enjoy the park as we do today.
Our new highly anticipated adventure playground, The Plotters’ Forest, opened to the public on Friday 15th April 2022, in time for the Easter weekend.
Towering amongst the trees in our Christmas tree plantation, the playground offers an exciting mix of challenge, discovery and intrigue for local visitors, including the young and the young at heart.
Inspired by our past and the part the castle played in The Rising of the North in 1569, the playground will hopefully bring out some modern day ‘Raby Rebels’ as visitors take in the panoramic views of the parkland, experience sky-high turrets and treetop tunnels in the Plotters’ Spire, before slipping down the slides and interacting with the ground-level games that surround the structure.
The playground has also been designed with inspiration from some of Raby Castle’s architectural history, including the famous Neville Gateway.
For the plotters requiring a pitstop, the new catering kiosk, The Plotters’ Pantry, serves takeaway hot and cold drinks, freshly made sandwiches, snacks, cake and ice cream and conveniently overlooks the toddlers’ play area, which includes mini turrets, climbing equipment and chalkboards.
Speaking of the motivation behind the project, Raby Estate’s owners, Lord and Lady Barnard, said:
“Creating The Plotters’ Forest has been a dream of ours for years and is inspired by our own experiences as a family, when our own children were young.
“We’ve taken special care to ensure the playground blends into the forested area where it’s located, by using complementary textures, colours and sustainable materials. We believe that building a relationship with the outdoors inspires children to be resilient, curious and courageous – all qualities found in Raby Castle’s plotters of the past.”
Claire Jones, Project Director and Head of Leisure and Tourism at Raby Estates said:
“The opening of The Plotters’ Forest is a huge step for Raby Castle, marking a new chapter in the much-loved attraction’s history. It is also the first important milestone in The Rising development, which will attract new visitors to the area and create outstanding recreation for the local community.”
The Rising project will include the significant restoration and renovation of several historical buildings on the estate, the creation of a new café and events space, as well as a new visitor hub and landscaped areas. The wider site will launch in Summer 2023.
“With visitors able to purchase tickets that include The Plotters’ Forest, the deer park and castle, we hope it’s a well-rounded offering with something for all family members to enjoy” Claire continues.
The wooden boardwalk through the playground is accessible by wheelchair and pushchair, creating a fun and inclusive space for all of our visitors.
For further information, please visit our Play Page.
News
Exploring Raby’s Medieval Past
We are delighted to hear that our application to the Castle Studies Trust has been successful, for funding to support the creation of a digital model of our 14th century Neville stronghold, Raby Castle. The actual survey to create the model will not take place until May, but preparation is well underway including extensive documentary research by volunteers. Our Castle Curator, Julie Biddlecombe-Brown, who will oversee the project during 2022, reflects here on what the project will entail and what we hope to achieve.
Raby Castle is one of the most impressive intact castles in the North of England. Built in the 14th century by the powerful Neville family, it has a fascinating history. The castle was seized by the Crown in 1569 after the failed ‘Rising of the North’. In 1626 the castle was purchased by courtier Henry Vane the Elder and has remained in the family ever since. Over the last 300 years, successive generations have altered, updated and modernised parts of the building and although from the exterior, the 14th-century core is still evident, internal reworkings of the spaces mean that it is sometimes difficult to imagine and interpret the castle’s medieval past.
In 2016, the castle was inherited by Harry Vane, Twelfth Baron Barnard. Under his stewardship, ambitious development plans were passed to enhance the visitor journey at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens. The dynamic scheme known as The Rising will restore and preserve historic buildings which have been without purpose for decades, providing contemporary event and exhibition spaces, retail and dining experiences and a visitor’s hub. The transformation of our visitor offer at the castle, park and gardens includes improved interpretation of the castle building. An important part of this for the Raby team is increasing our understanding of how the castle functioned during its medieval heyday. In 1378 Bishop Hatfield granted John Neville a licence to crenellate, reflecting a building that was changing from a fortified manor house to the castle we see today. Less than 50 years later, John’s son Ralph arranged the betrothal of his daughter Cecily to his young ward, Richard Duke of York; a marriage that would play a central role in the Wars of the Roses and ultimately in shaping British history.
With no significant collections in the castle to reflect this period, Raby’s greatest medieval asset is the castle itself. Alterations over the past 400 years have reshaped the building, modernising it for residents as tastes and technologies changed. Whilst it is still medieval in appearance, key features of the 14th century building have been lost. In order to explore how the castle may have looked before these alterations, the Castle Studies Trust’s 2022 project will create a digital model of the castle that allows visitors to view the castle’s past appearance based on their ongoing research.
The creation of the digital model will be carried out by Durham University’s Archaeological Services, using a DJI S900 drone or equivalent. Photographs will be taken utilising a 14mm lens and 36 megapixel sensor, supported by RTK GNSS positioning. The data captured will then be uploaded and processed through Agisoft Metashape Professional and output as a 3D model utilising AutoCad Map 3D and giving the team the opportunity to ‘strip back’ known later additions and ‘rebuild’ known, lost features, such as the Barbican. The resulting model will be used in new interpretation at the castle, sharing these findings with our visitors.
Instrumental to the success of this project will be a team of our dedicated Raby volunteers. A group of our regular volunteers formed a research group to work with Curator, Julie to pull together all known sources for the castle’s architectural changes to support this project. They have researched documentary sources including primary and secondary accounts, topographical pictures, maps and plans and, in advance of the project, will be surveying the castle walls. Their findings will be brought together in a portfolio of evidence which can then be reviewed by specialists from Durham University Archaeological Services who will be carrying out further research and eventually creating the model itself.
There has never been a full archaeological survey of Raby Castle and opportunities for research have been limited in the past. This project reflects the ambitions and vision of Lord and Lady Barnard, the castle’s owners who firmly believe that it is by understanding and sharing the castle’s past that we will secure its future. This project is part of that important story.
To find out more about the Castle Studies Trust please visit their website.
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Acres of agricultural land, vast woodland, heritage landscapes and unique buildings all steeped in a rich history FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RABY
