The Walled Gardens at Raby Castle are glorious in any season, and spring is no exception.

Last spring the Gardens were closed to visitors during the first National Lockdown, and much of the Garden Teams hard work went unseen by visitors. We are delighted that this spring visitors will again be able to enjoy this beautiful season in person at Raby.

Spring Highlights in the Walled Gardens

As the days grow steadily longer, the promise of springtime begins to emerge in the Walled Gardens – snowdrops (Galanthus) are the first spring flowers to appear. These delicate flowers are remarkably hardy, and can be seen in the Park and Gardens until the end of March.

Following soon after scented daffodils (Narcissus) and delicate Erythronium (dog’s tooth violet ‘Pagoda’) flowers bring a freshness to the gardens, and the first bursts of spring colour. Another spring favourite is the delicate Snake Heads (Fritillaria meleagris), which get its name from the chequered snakeskin pattern on their bell-shaped flowers.

Later in the month visitors can enjoy the pretty spring blossom on the magnificent fruit trees that line the walls of the garden, with varieties of apple, pear and plum trees in full bloom. The fruit trees and yellow Forsythia shrubs are a haven for bees and butterflies that return to the Walled Gardens throughout spring.

In the central Rose Garden, flanked by the magnificent yew hedges, the formal borders look spectacular with a varieties of tulips (including Angelique, Black Parrot and Webbers Parrot) bringing bright bursts of vibrant colour.

Later in spring frothy allium stems will provide a contrast to the neat lines of the box hedging

Watch our Garden mindfulness video for a preview of what’s in store.

Spring Tips from the Garden Team:

• Clear borders removing any branches and dead foliage that may have gathered over the autumn and winter months. Gently aerate the soil and this will encourage new life to strike away for the spring. Collecting fallen stalks and dead branches from the borders helps prevent bacteria and pests infecting your plants.
• Spring is a great time for a ‘Spring’ clean. Clean your greenhouse or cold frame by washing the glass (inside and outside) and removing any moss. Gently sterilize seed trays ready for summer and autumn growing.
• Don’t forget to feed your borders. Fork in some good compost (or manure) into your garden borders which helps to put nutrients back into the soil. Do this gently so as not to disturb and spring bulbs you have planted.
• Spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and crocus, are planted in the Autumn months. If you start your spring bulbs off in pots, March is a good time to plant your spring potted bulbs outdoors in borders or containers.
• Spring is a good time to scarify your lawn, to get it in good condition for the warmer months ahead. Scarifying or raking the lawn helps to remove any moss and dead clippings, allowing the soil to breath. This also helps prevent the lawn from becoming water-logged.
• Get planning for summer and think about your summer planting schemes. During the spring months plant out any tender stemmed summer plants. At Raby we plant out our Dahlia bulbs during the spring, ready for spectacular summer colour.
• Take some time to enjoy your garden without any distractions. Spring is the season of new life and although there are always plenty of jobs to do in the garden, it is important to stop and appreciate the fruits of your labour too. Enjoy a cuppa as you listen to the birdsong.

Book Park and Gardens tickets

To celebrate National Pie Week, our Estate Chef Tom Parry has created this delicious recipe using estate reared Raby Longhorn beef.

This rich slow cooked Longhorn Beef pie is best prepared in advance and is the perfect dish to enjoy after a long walk. Simply prepare the beef filling and keep in the fridge, then add the pastry topping when ready to bake.

Preparation time: 30 mins

Cooking time:  3 hours

Serves: One large pie feeds six people 

Ingredients

• 900g     Diced Longhorn Beef steak
• 15g          Butter
• 4g            Sweet Paprika (not hot)
• 30g         Plain flour
• 28g         Olive oil
• 250g      Red onion, sliced into rings
• 2              Garlic cloves finely chopped
• 400g     Sliced Button mushrooms
• 3 stalk   Celery (cut into 1-inch pieces)
• 100g       Carrot (cut into 1 inch dice pieces)
• 700ml   Beef Stock
• 4g            Chopped fresh thyme
• 4g            Chopped fresh parsley
• 30g         Tomato purée
• 30g          Dijon mustard
• 150ml     Crème fraiche
• 500g       All butter puff pastry (shop bought)
• 1                Egg yolk, lightly beaten
• 30g          Red Currant Jelly
• Sea Salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan 140°C/gas mark 3.
2. Pat the meat dry with kitchen paper. Put the flour on a large plate or tray, and season. Coat one-third of the meat in the flour. Heat the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan until hot and fry the floured meat over a medium-high heat to seal. When the meat is just brown, remove it from the pan using a slotted spoon and transfer to a flameproof casserole dish. Divide the remaining meat into 2 batches and repeat the flouring and browning, adding more oil if needed.
3. Add the butter and onion to the frying pan, with a little more oil if necessary, and fry for 3 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently. Add the celery, carrots, mushrooms, garlic and paprika and stir to mix, then fry for 2 minutes before tipping the vegetables on top of the meat in the casserole dish.
4. Pour the beef stock, tomato puree and add the redcurrant jelly into the casserole dish. Mix well and bring to the boil, stirring. Cover the casserole and cook for 2½ hours or until the meat is tender. Remove from the oven, add Dijon mustard, taste the gravy for seasoning and leave to cool. If you prefer, the filling can be transferred to a slow cooker and cooked on a medium heat setting for 4 hours.
5. Fold in the crème fraiche to the cooled mixture, which will give the pie filling a creamy richness.
6. Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas mark 7. Roll out the pastry and cut out a lid and a strip for the lip of the pie dish. Stir the parsley and thyme into the filling, then transfer the meat and vegetables to the pie dish using a large spoon, together with enough of the gravy to come just below the lip of the pie dish. Brush water around the lip of the pie dish then cut the pastry strip into smaller pieces and place the strips on the moistened lip. Moisten the strips with water, cover with the lid and press to seal.
7. Trim and crimp the edge with a fork, then brush the pastry lid with beaten egg to glaze. Use the trimmings to make decorations and re-glaze with as much of the remaining egg as needed. Cut a small slit in the centre of the pie lid.
8. Bake the pie for 30-35 minutes or until the pastry has risen and is golden brown. If you have any gravy left over, reheat until bubbling, pour it into a jug, and serve alongside the pie. Serve the pie with new potatoes a selection of seasonal spring vegetables.

 

Raby Castle regularly hosts research placements for students who are training for careers in heritage and curation. Despite the challenges of the past 12 months this tradition continued during 2020, albeit virtually, and we are delighted to share some of the fascinating stories about Raby’s oriental ceramic collection which were uncovered by a group of Chinese students who joined us for a placement as part of their studies, at Leicester University’s internationally renowned School of Museum Studies.

Students Xinyi, Manle, Sijia and Suwei were excited to have the opportunity to study Raby’s fine collection of European and Oriental Ceramics, which is on display throughout the Castle.

Xinyi originates from Jingdezhen, the Chinese porcelain “Capital of China” and has had a life-long interest in ceramic culture and technique. Former archaeologist Sijia was more familiar with China’s more distant past and the placement offered an opportunity to learn about more recent centuries through Chinese and Japanese decorative arts.

A Brief History of the Collection

Generations of the Vane family appear to have collected ceramics from China and Japan – a tradition that continues even to this day. During the earliest years of the 19^th century, fellow enthusiast, the Prince Regent (later King George IV) visited Raby with his brother and was treated to a display of the castle’s collection in a specially designed “Chinese Salon”. Some pieces in the Raby collection would have looked very familiar to the Prince, including a stunning set of porcelain model pagodas, identical to a set that he had purchased for his own home at Brighton Pavilion. These striking pagodas remain a firm favourite with visitors to the castle today.

The lesser-known pieces in the Raby collection are equally intriguing and were the focus of closer study by the four students. Each student was supplied with detailed photographs of around 20 items. They researched form, decoration, function and technique, as well as wider stories of manufacture, trade, fashion and export. 

Fairytale Characters

In this country, those of us that have grown up with Western traditions might see an illustration of a girl in a red cloak alongside a wolf and know immediately that it represents the fairytale character Red Riding Hood – not so obvious if you haven’t been brought up with that story. The same is true for those who are unable to recognise the many cultural nuances evident in Chinese ceramic decoration.  For our four Chinese students recognising what might need explanation to a Western audience brought new meaning to the collections.  At the end of her placement, Manle felt that her own cultural identity had brought a greater level of depth to the information that she had been able to share with the Raby team. From our perspective it added rich layers of detail that otherwise may have been overlooked.

Nowhere is this insight clearer than in one of the pieces depicting Chinese figures and text,  researched by student Suwei. Suwei found that the text and the figures on the vase came from the Wu Shuang Pu, or ‘Table of Peerless Heroes’, a 17^th century woodblock print containing a collection of beautiful illustrations of historical figures and folk heroes. The two figures depicted on this vase were identified as the male and female folk-heroes Lü Zhu and Qian Liu.

Lü Zhu (ca.250-300), whose name means ‘green gem’, was the favourite concubine of the wealthy Shi Chong. When a powerful General demanded that she be ‘given’ to him, Shi Chong refused and his enemy sent troops to invade to take her by force. Rather than be captured, Lü Zhu chose death rather than submission. The text is a poem that tells of her brave and tragic end.

The male figure, Qian Liu (852-932) was a warlord and the founder of the Kingdom of Wuyue (Nowadays Zhejiang and Jiangsu Province in Southeast China) during the late Tang period. Qian Liu was named the Prince of Yue in 902 with the title of Prince of Wu added two years later. The text is a poem praising of his loyalty to the Tang Empire and his achievements as a local governor.

But in examining the poetry, Suwei spotted a couple of anomalies. Some words and lines of the usual poems were missing. This, she felt, might reflect the fact that these items were being produced on such a huge scale that the painter perhaps chose to omit some words and sentences to speed up the decoration process. We wonder whether anyone before Suwei had spotted this!

Stories of Global Trade

Xinyi was pleased to find that the collection at Raby Castle demonstrated examples of typical cultural exchanges between the two nations. These stories of cultural exchange provide a window on the history of global trade and networks.

Once piece studied by student Sijia, was a “Kraak” porcelain bowl. Her research highlighted the links between “Kraak” (made in Jingdezhen during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty 1573-1620) and the Dutch East India Company who brought examples back to Europe for auction as early as 1602. Archaeological excavations in China have helped build understanding of the trade and export of ceramics from this early period, including routes routinely used by smugglers when exports were banned.

This wider history of global trade was researched more fully by Manle, including the background of Chinese export-ware and links between China and Europe during 17^th and 18^th centuries. This also meant comparing items that were made in China for the domestic market with those that became popular in Europe, looking at interactions between China, Europe and Japan.

A Lasting Legacy

Despite not being on-site at Raby Castle, the four students were able to provide new insight into the pieces they researched, and the castle team were thrilled with what they discovered. Their collective research and the cultural context they shared with the team added layers of rich detail to our understanding of these beautiful items, giving us greater appreciation of the makers and collectors of the past. But what happens next?

This blog shares just a tiny fraction of the information they unearthed. Their research will be added to the castle’s collections database where it can then be used to help to interpret the history of the castle, its owners and collections, their work will help us to create new art tours, and to contribute to exhibitions and art projects.

Although Manle, Xinyi, Suwei and Sijia were not able to visit Raby Castle last summer, we remain in touch with them as they embark on their careers and look forward to welcoming them to Raby Castle when it is possible for them to visit, to see the collection in person.

Other articles you may enjoy:

Our Favourite Things: A Personal Look at Raby’s Collections

Behind the Scenes – The Octagon Drawing Room at Raby Castle

Whatever Happened to Raby’s ‘Museum of Natural History’?

 

Recipe by Estate Chef Tom Parry

To mark Shrove Tuesday our chef Tom has shared his ultimate pancake recipe for you to make at home. His recipe is a modern take on a traditional Pancake recipe from the Raby archives, which is also reproduced below. You’ll find a link to download Tom’s recipe at the bottom of the page.

Preparation time: Less than 15 mins

Cooking time: 15 mins

Serves: Makes enough for two people

Ingredients

• 2 Large free-range eggs, separated
• 25g Caster sugar
• 2g Vanilla essence
• 30ml Milk
• 15g Self-raising flour
• 5g Vegetable oil

To serve

• Whipped Cream
• Maple Syrup
• Strawberries

Method

1. Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl with 1 tbsp of caster sugar, using an electric whisk or a stand mixer to form stiff peaks.
2. Beat the egg yolks, 1 tbsp caster sugar and vanilla together in a separate bowl until pale and foamy, and a ribbon trail is left on the surface when the beaters are removed. Gently fold in the milk and flour until just incorporated.
3. Fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture and gently turn the batter over to mix together, using the side of a metal spoon or spatula to keep all the air in the mixture.
4. Working quickly, heat a large non-stick frying pan with a lid over a very low heat. Drizzle a little oil into the pan, then wipe it with a piece of kitchen roll – you only want a small film on the base of the pan. Make three tall pancakes by piling three spoons full of the batter into the pan, using about two thirds of the mixture. Keep them piled quite high, do not tip the pan or spread them out like you would normally do with thinner pancakes. Cover with a lid and cook for 2-4 mins, the steam will help them set. Remove the lid and add another dollop of batter to each pancake, this will create the classic height and thickness. Return the lid and cook for another 4-6 mins until the top feels slightly set.
5. Add whipped cream, maple syrup and strawberry to create an indulgent and memorable Shrove Tuesday.

Raby Pancake Recipe and History

During lockdown Raby Castle’s fantastic volunteers have been helping to transcribe some of our archive manuscripts … and look what we found especially for Shrove Tuesday! Here this 1770s recipe for pancakes is quite different to the more usual French-style crêpe or the fluffy American pancake, separating the whites from the yolks and using water rather than milk. We’d love to see pictures of the results if anyone tries this recipe at home.

Pancakes

Take four eggs for three pancakes, so in proportion to the quantity you want. Cast your whites on a dish until they rise to a snow, then cast your yolks in the bowl you mean to make your pancakes in with a little salt. Then mix in your snow with your yolks, then mix it with water to a proper thickness. Then mix your whites and stir it all together. Try not to break the whites too much. Then butter your frying pan well and do one side in the pan, fold the other before the rise until it rises well.

Download Raby Castle Pancake Stack Recipe

 

Raby Castle and High Force are home to some amazing wildlife, including a wonderful variety of birds.

Our Bird Bingo game is the perfect activity for a cold winter’s day – you don’t even need to leave the house!

Download the activity sheet, grab a hot chocolate and watch our Bird Bingo video clip of some of the birds seen at Raby – can you be the first to spot all nine birds?

For full details, download our activity sheet which also includes everything you need for a nature walk in your local area.

Download Activity Sheet

If you enjoyed this then check out our other children’s activities including our Waterfall wordsearch and Deer colouring sheets.

Why not try our Raby Castle Online Scavenger Hunt? Or take a look at some brilliant Castle inspired stories to enjoy at home?

Each year during the winter months, many historic buildings close their doors to visitors. Raby Castle is no exception and after a busy festive period, the castle closes before opening again in the spring.

Although the doors may be closed, this period is anything but quiet for the castle team, as work to care for and maintain the collection continues behind the scenes. Traditionally, these months see the winter deep clean with conservation work and collection checks taking place, as the castle prepares to welcome visitors in the year ahead.

This year sees a focus on Raby’s opulent Octagon Drawing Room, an elaborate Victorian confection of gilding, silk and glass influenced by French 17^th century design. Created in 1848 by Scottish Architect, William Burn for the 2^nd Duke and Duchess of Cleveland, the room would have made a bold statement that both impressed their visitors and demonstrated their wealth.

It is not hard to see why this room remains a firm favourite with visitors today. Look closely at the ornate ceiling and abundant symbolism can be discovered; the Duke’s monogram, family coat of arms and links with Royalty are all present, picked out in gleaming gilt. The height is accentuated by an enormous Victorian chandelier, painstakingly cleaned by the Raby custodian each winter, which is reflected in the in the two large gilt mirrors above the fireplaces, creating an infinity effect. Bold yellow silk wallcoverings, red and gold curtains and furniture pack a visual punch almost 175 years after completion, the colours still brilliant after a major a conservation project in the 1990s.

This winter, some of the furniture originally supplied for this room by the Bond Street company G. J. Morant has been returned to display after being rested for a couple of years. It is a reminder of how the room would have looked, and how it would have been used in the past. A drawing room (or withdrawing-room) was traditionally a more female domain, the space that women would ‘withdraw’ to after dinner when the men would remain at the table or retreat to a smoking room with port and cigars. The view that this was to spare the women from political debate is certainly ripe for challenge at Raby. The 19^th century visitors books, (housed in Raby archives) clearly show that guests to the castle that were vibrant and politically engaged, and both the Duke and the Duchess would have been prominent hosts. Standing in this room today, you can imagine the lively conversation in the candlelight, the sound of drinks being poured, and the warmth and smell of the wood fire from the two fireplaces.

The family entertained Royals, politicians, writers and artists through some fascinating periods of history. During the latter half of the 19^th century, guests included the Prime Ministers William Ewart Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli – both leaders of different parties who visited the castle at different times.  If walls could only talk, what more could this room tell us?

If you enjoyed this blog you might be interested in reading about Raby’s Grand Entrance Hall 

In the early 18^th-century an almighty family feud almost destroyed one of Durham’s best-loved castles.

Christopher Vane, 1^st Baron Barnard of Raby Castle, was said to be a quiet, book-loving man who liked his estates to be run in good order. He married Lady Elizabeth Holles, the eldest daughter of Gilbert Holles, Earl of Clare. Elizabeth was a formidable character reputed to have an ‘ungovernable temper’.

In 1714, their eldest son Gilbert declared that he wished to marry Mary, the daughter of Guildford MP Morgan Randyll who was a wealthy “commoner”, and not a titled aristocrat.  Christopher and Elizabeth were furious and opposed the marriage. History lays the blame for this disagreement firmly at the feet of Elizabeth, who, as a rich heiress was said to be used to getting her own way.

To Gilbert’s horror, in protest against his marriage to Mary, his parents set about destroying his inheritance at Raby Castle.

Christopher paid his steward £50 to employ two-hundred workmen. In just a few days, the castle had been stripped of its lead, glass doors and furniture, and the floors were pulled up. The woodlands were cut down and many of the iconic Raby deer were slaughtered. Household goods were sold for whatever they would fetch, and the remains ended up on enormous bonfire.

Gilbert and Mary were not going to take the destruction of Raby Castle lying down, and successfully took Christopher and Elizabeth to Court of Chancery in the case of Vane vs Barnard.  Christopher and Elizabeth were ordered to cease the destruction and a rebuilding programme began.

Gilbert and Mary are understood to have had happy marriage, and the story of Christopher and Elizabeth’s disapproval slipped into local legend. Christopher almost vanishes into the background, whereas a furious Elizabeth was said to continue to torment her neighbours and became known locally as ‘The Old Hell Cat’. Stories of her fiery temperament continue to be told, and she is said to haunt the battlements of Raby Castle, pacing furiously back and forth, knitting with red-hot needles.

Read this and other myths and legends from County Durham in Visit County Durham’s Durham Stories online storybook.

If you enjoyed this legend, you can discover more tales inspired by Raby Castle from the winners of our 2020 Short Story Competition here 

With so many of our young visitors unable to travel to Raby during lockdown, we’ve decided to bring Raby to you.

Families love our Scavenger Hunt through the Deer Park and there’s always lots to see as you explore.

Download our Scavenger Hunt activity sheet and discover hidden treasures as you watch the video and explore the Park and Gardens at Raby Castle.

There are 20 things to spot – how many can you find?

Download Activity Sheet

The Twelve Days of Christmas have been celebrated since medieval times. In the 14^th century when Raby Castle was built, the Twelve Days began on Christmas Day itself, celebrating the birth of Christ, then would carry on until Twelfth Night on 5^th January – a huge celebration involving feasting, drinking and merrymaking which heralded the end of winter. Taking our inspiration from the 18^th century song, the Twelve Days of Christmas, we challenged the castle team to find a link with each of the gifts given over the 12-day period. Our daily celebration will provide a light-hearted glimpse of the stories of the people who have lived and worked at Raby Castle over the centuries.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On our first of the Twelve days of Christmas, we celebrate the gardens. Although we have not managed to photograph a partridge in our pear trees, our gardens team take great pride in the historic Raby fruit trees. Pictured here in autumn 2020 our espalier pear trees, planted on a sunny south facing wall at the bottom of the walled garden.

Raby has a long tradition of fruit growing and in the temperamental climate of the north-east, some surprising fruits have been grown. Pears and apples might be expected, and other historic fruit trees and bushes still thrive including the Raby redcurrant created by the Head Gardener in the 19^th century, and a white Ischia fig, brought to Raby from Italy by William Harry Lord Barnard (later the 3^rd Earl of Darlington), which can still be seen in its purpose-built fig house, just along from the pears.

Figs were not the only exotic fruit grown at Raby and heated walls and specialist structures have seen crops of peaches, grapes and even pineapples grown successfully.

The Raby gardens have a fascinating history  of their own. During the pandemic they have been a haven for so many visitors and when we were unable to open the castle, became a place of safe participation in events as varied as open-air cinema, yoga and a Halloween trail. The gardens are so well-loved that in 2021 we will be launching a new Garden Tour looking at the history, planting and future of this much-loved space. Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear when the tour is launched.

Two Turtle Doves

 

According to Thomas Bewick, author of A History of British Birds, first published in 1797 …

“The note of the Turtle Dove is singularly tender and plaintive: in addressing his mate, the male makes use of a variety of winning attitudes, cooing at the same time in the most gentle and soothing accents; on which account this bird has been represented in all ages as the most perfect emblem of connubial attachment and constancy”.

With such symbolism, what better gift could a true-love bring on the second day of Christmas?

The library at Raby Castle has copies of both volumes of Bewick’s work on British Birds and his earlier work on a History of Quadrupeds.  Born in 1753 in Northumberland, Bewick was a tearaway child who frequently played truant from school, preferring to spend his time in the great-outdoors and in observing and drawing wildlife. He trained as an engraver, temporarily leaving the north-east to seek his fortune in London but was soon drawn back to his childhood home, Cherryburn, now owned by the National Trust.

At a time when engraving on copper plates was more common, Bewick preferred to work on wooden blocks – pushing the boundaries of wood engraving to their very limits. His intricate, life-like prints include the full range of British birds, interspersed with bizarre scenes as varied as a child blowing soap bubbles from a clay pipe to a convict wrestling with a demon en-route to the gallows!

But birds were clearly his passion. In the introduction to Volume 1 of a History of British Birds, he writes ….  “In no part of the animal creation are the wisdom, the goodness, and the bounty of Providence displayed in a more lively manner, than in the structure, formation, and various endowments of the feathered tribes”.

Three French Hens

Today our glimpse of the Raby Collections is of a tiny brass model of three hens and a cockerel. Rather than of French origin, they are believed to have been made in Germany at some time before 1883. The only clue to manufacture being a little stamp reading “Geschutz” on the base – meaning ‘protected’ – a 19^th century copyright system used in Austria and Germany.

Our three German hens (and a cockerel) are kept in the Duke’s Study at Raby Castle which can be visited on our ‘Behind the Scenes Tours’.

The study was last used by the 10^th Lord Barnard and closed up when he died in 1964 . It has remained a time capsule ever since.  The little model was possibly a souvenir, collected by earlier generations. In the 1870s and 1880s the 4^th Duke and Duchess of Cleveland were known to have regularly visited Germany, enjoying the historic cities and taking health cures in spa towns in the company of German nobles such as the Prince de Schwartzenberg, the Queen of Saxony and the Prince and Princess Bismarck who also visited them at Raby Castle.

The Duke’s correspondence and memoirs were transcribed by the Duchess after his death and chart these and other journeys. The couple were clearly enthusiastic travellers and describe every aspect of their travels, from the landscapes they travelled through to the conversations they had with the people they met. German crafts and toys clearly made an impression on the Duke as he mentioned them in his writing. This tiny model – which he seems to have used as a paperweight – is one of a number of  items dating from the 19^th century that were made in Germany  – perhaps a small reminder of their travels when the couple returned home.

Four Colly (or Calling) Birds

Today often written as ‘Calling birds’, early versions of the Twelve Days of Christmas list this gift as four ‘Colly Birds’ – a Colly Bird being a bird as black as coal – our blackbird.

In the 19^th century, many wealthy collectors embracing new scientific research actively sought to acquire and display natural history specimens from the UK and further afield.

Raby was no exception and traces of these animal collections still survive at Raby Castle, including a case displaying a variety of birds of many colours – black birds included. Many of these specimens were believed to be collected by Elizabeth, 1^st Duchess of Cleveland  (1777-1861).

This summer, student Dorothea Fox from Durham University carried out an internship at Raby during which she researched Elizabeth’s ‘Museum of Natural History’.

Here she summarises her findings in her blog Whatever Happened to Raby’s ‘Museum of Natural History’? So, on this fourth day of Christmas, why not settle back with a cup of tea and a mince pie and discover more about this fascinating aspect of Raby’s past.

Five Gold Rings

Of course these glittering rings are copper, rather than gold, but they form part of Raby Castle’s pre-eminent  – and therefore gold-star collection of furnishings and furniture in the medieval kitchen. Built in the 14^th century and remaining in use until the 1950s the kitchen remains a firm favourite part of any visit to the castle.

Part of the appeal of the kitchen lies in the array of gleaming copper pots, pans, urns and especially our collection of moulds of all shapes and sizes.

Foods set in a mould have been popular culinary showpieces from the medieval period onwards, evolving over the centuries to include dishes, from jellies and  mousses to ice-cream and blancmanges. Often highly elaborate, these decorative delicacies could be sweet or savoury.

A handwritten recipe book in the Raby collection dating from the 1780s shows that variety of uses such moulds could be put to ….  “Oysters in a Green Mould” used veal, spinach juice and oysters set with gelatine, “A Newmarket Pudding” set lemons and cherries with breadcrumbs, eggs and sugar, and the book contains several recipes for “Iceland Moss Jelly”; a fortifying food for invalids considered especially suitable for anyone suffering from a sore throat or bronchitis.

The shapes of the moulds vary, from ornate castles with turrets and towers, to tiny individual flowers, and of course the variety of decorative ring moulds. Many of the moulds are marked with the stamp of the maker and also a mark denoting the owner – here seen as the C for the Cleveland under Ducal Coronet – a reminder that during this period Raby Castle was owed by the Duke of Cleveland whose cook might well take their own kitchenware when they travelled to other houses.

Cleaning the copper at Raby is an annual task embraced with gusto by our volunteer team. The annual cleaning takes place just before the castle opens for the season and is traditionally an opportunity to catch up as a team and enjoy one another’s company.

For many during 2020, volunteering was impossible and as we move towards 2021 we take the opportunity to wish all of our volunteers a happy, safe and healthy year.

Whilst the Covid restrictions may mean that the annual copper clean for 2021 has to be very different, we look forward to presenting visitors with the much-loved view of a gleaming historic kitchen.

Six Geese A Laying

Tucked away in one of the porcelain display cabinets at Raby are a pair of charming little double-handled beakers. One of which depicts a variety of birds and animals in a stylised landscape including a simple but rather sweet depiction of a goose.

During summer 2020 four postgraduate students from the School of Museum Studies at Leicester University carried out a ‘virtual’ research placement at Raby Castle, helping us to better understand our Chinese and Japanese ceramics. This little cup was studied by budding curator Manle Li s as part of this project and her conclusions were fascinating. After studying the painting and the shape of the cup (and particularly the handles) in detail, Manle concluded that it was in fact a European example and that the birds and animals weren’t quite a match for the Chinese painting style. Her online research led to other examples of 18^th century two handled cups of the Chinese style in collections of the British Museum and the V&A which were the same, distinct shape.

Raby Castle enjoys regularly hosting student placements and even during the challenges of 2020 found a way to continue this tradition virtually. Placements provide an opportunity for focused research into collections that have been given limited attention in the past. We would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL of the students that worked with us in 2020 and look forward to working with the next cohort in 2021.

Seven Swans a Swimming

It takes a bit of searching to see how these fine slip-on ladies’ mules relate to the gift given on the seventh day of Christmas …. Although to the wearer it would have been perfectly clear.

Viewed from above, each of these embroidered red velvet mules depicts (not seven, but..) two Swans a Swimming.

Swans have held deep and symbolic meaning in England since Roman times; featuring in classical myth and legend, fairy tales and folklore. The shape formed by the necks of two swans facing one another can be seen to form a heart and swans have come to symbolise love, strength and loyalty…. A perfect token to be sent by a true love.

These exquisite shoes were made in around 1670. The swans and other motifs were embroidered on to red velvet. We don’t know who they belonged to, but in the 1670s the castle had been owned for around 50 years by the Vane family. Perhaps it isn’t too great a flight of fancy to speculate that one possible contender was Elizabeth Holles who married Christopher Vane, the 1^st Baron Barnard in 1676 – exactly around the time these sentimental shoes were made.

Eight Maids a Milking

During the first UK lockdown, a number of our willing band of volunteers who so tirelessly support Raby worked with our Curator on a project to understand more about the people for whom Raby Castle has been their workplace.

Transcription and analysis of some of the records relating to Raby’s servants at various points from the 1890s to the 1920s is helping to build up a picture of how life changed for working people during decades that saw major advances in domestic technology, not to mention political change and war on a scale that had never been seen before.

One such role that can be traced from the records is that of the Dairymaid. In 1900 Raby Castle employed two dairymaids. Jane Metcalf and Cissie Glendinning. Jane was 1^st Dairymaid with an annual salary of £26 – slightly higher than the corresponding role of 1st Kitchenmaid. Cissie  was in training as 2^nd Dairymaid and earned £10 a year.

Research into the archives suggests that rather than going “a-milking” the two dairymaids would have collected milk and eggs daily from Raby’s Home Farm. Their job was then the regular production of dairy products for the family and servants hall; churning butter, separating cream and making different cheeses for the household.

Jane and Cissie would have been expected to keep the dairy spotlessly clean and hygienic – in the preceding decades, advances in the study of chemistry and microbiology had greatly improved understanding of the scientific basis for food hygiene. The works of scientists such as Louis Pasteur soon impacted in a domestic setting and the nation became obsessed with the previously hidden world of bacteria and germs.

Jane is known to still have been working for Raby in 1908 (as seen on the wage record pictured here), although Cissie had been replaced by Margaret Mason – both women on the same salaries as in 1900.

The project to transcribe the Raby servants records continues, so that in future we can build up a clear picture of the working life of the estate. Thank you to all of the volunteers who have been involved.

Nine Ladies Dancing

Ever since its earliest origins, Raby Castle has been a place where people have been welcomed for music, feasting and dancing. Generations of the household and their guests were entertained from the rare stone Minstrel’s Gallery in the Barons’ Hall and over the centuries, parties, balls and concerts have continued the tradition.

During the 19^th century, visitors staying at Raby were encouraged to write in the castle’s visitors book. These incredible books are now housed in the Raby archive and are filled with witty comments, jokes and poems about the hospitality received.

Many visitors chose to reflect on their stay through drawings or paintings rather than words. Here, the illustrator Richard Doyle who was a regular visitor to Raby Castle,  states his reason for visiting in 1869 as “to Dream of Raby in the Olden Time”. Taking up two full pages of the visitors book, Doyle fills the space with illustrations of card games, sumptuous meals and here, his imagining of ladies and gentlemen enjoying a square dance.

Ten Lords A Leaping

Raby Castle has been home to many Lords and is currently owned by the 12^th Lord Barnard. It is not really known why in The Twelve Days of Christmas the Lords are ‘A-Leaping’ but it certainly implies a degree of energy and progress; leaping forward or leaping into action.

Type the word ‘Leaping’ into the collections catalogue for Raby Castle and one item ‘leaps’ out. Earlier this year our Senior Guide Keith Simpson revealed that his favourite in the Raby collections is the 17^th Century masterpiece ‘Marcus Curtius Leaping into the Gulf’ by Luca Giordano.

On our tenth day of Christmas,  Keith shares his passion for the painting which is on display in the Dining Room at Raby Castle. Read more here.

Eleven Pipers Piping

Look up in the Small Drawing Room at Raby Castle and you will discover clues to the room’s past use.

Much of the architectural detail of this room dates from the mid-18^th century when architects James Paine and Daniel Garrett worked at Raby.

Musical instruments abound with pan-pipes, a horn and a lute. In the  late 19^th century, the 4^th Duchess of Cleveland tells us in her ‘Handbook of Raby Castle’ that the room was used for music … but only in the morning!

Other symbols on the ceiling reflect different interests of the couple, including commerce and outdoor leisure. The room is still filled with art and artefacts that reflect the interests of the family in years go by, and in particular a love of horses and a celebration of the prizewinning racehorses that were bred in the 18^th and 19^th centuries on the Raby Estate.

Twelve Drummers Drumming

 

Our last item in the Twelve Days of Christmas series is this impressive Regimental Drum of the South Durham Militia.

The Durham Militia was formed in 1759 by the 2^nd Earl of Darlington, owner of Raby Castle, after retiring from the army the previous year.

Initially made up of 369 Militiamen who met monthly for training – carrying out their normal lives in between. In times of emergency, the Militia would be deployed as regular soldiers.

The Regimental Band was an important part of military life and the Durham Militia is no exception. This beautifully painted bass drum dates from after 1853 when the Durham Militia divided into the North and South Durham Militia but this was not the end of the story.

When the county’s famous Durham Light Infantry was formed in 1881, the North and South Durham Militia became the 3^rd and 4^th Battalions. Later generations of the family went on to serve in the DLI and their uniforms form part of the collections of Raby Castle.