MEMBERS ENJOY EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK AT RABY CASTLE’S REMODELLED EAST GARDEN

Two hundred Raby Castle members were given an exclusive first look at the remodelled East Garden on Wednesday 21^st June. Lord and Lady Barnard invited guests to view the first completed section of the 18^th Century Walled Garden which features a unique tiered grass amphitheatre.

The event allowed Raby’s members a sneak preview of the first phase of the exciting new design, carefully crafted by world-renowned garden designer Luciano Giubbilei, in close collaboration with Lady Barnard.

 

In addition to the accompanied walk through the magnificent garden, members were treated to a glass of English sparkling wine and the opportunity to speak to Raby’s custodians about the ambitious development programme taking place within the park, known locally as ‘The Rising’.

Situated just a stone’s throw from the 14^th century Raby Castle, home to the Vane family since 1626, work began in the eastern section of the Walled Garden in early 2022 and has included the creation of the tiered grass amphitheatre, and the planting of new borders and beds.

 

Lady Barnard, who is spearheading the rejuvenation of the Walled Garden, was thrilled to share this momentous occasion with the Raby members. “This preview of the East Garden is truly the first step in our thrilling journey to completion. The gardens at Raby Castle have always had huge appeal for visitors, and it was so important to us that we maintained its character and original features.

“Part of the scheme to improve the Raby visitor experience includes providing a space in which the public can relax and enjoy the picturesque surroundings. The addition of the grass amphitheatre has created a sunken performance area for enjoyment of the arts, but also for quiet contemplation.

“We have maintained the soul of the East Garden, embracing its provenance and memories, utilising the much-loved combination of herbaceous borders and trees. The space is framed by amelanchier woodlands, which will grow over time to create an intimate experience for visitors, as they stroll through the interspersed woodland under blossoming trees towards the open amphitheatre, with the castle framing the horizon.

“Evergreens and topiary have been introduced to reflect the balance of formality and informality within the structure of the garden, with Taxus hedging and Osmanthus cloud-pruned plants installed to create flow and mirror the form of the historical yew hedge in the neighbouring Formal Garden. We wanted to mix the soft textures of blossom from the amelanchier, with the evergreen structure, creating subtle impact and inspiration.”

 

The Formal Garden will comprise a series of unique mazes alongside the historic Raby yew hedge, with a graceful rill flowing north to south, adding the tranquil sounds and sight of water complementing this calm space. The adjacent West Garden will be the productive space, combining raised beds growing seasonal vegetables, a green house displaying hot house plants and a cut flower garden full of roses, peonies, dahlias and sweet peas.

 

Raby members will have exclusive preview access to the East Garden throughout the summer. “We are thrilled to have welcomed so many of our cherished members today and look forward to enjoying this beautiful new space with them this summer, in anticipation of the formal opening of the Walled Garden next year”, concludes Lady Barnard.

 

 

With so many exciting opportunities to be had at Raby Estate this season, a Raby membership is the best way to enjoy access to everything and anything Raby Estate has to offer*. The Raby membership begins from £15 per year for children from 4 to 12-years-old, £28 per adult, £25.00 per concession, with family passes starting at £80 (2 adults + 3 children), with benefits including admission to Raby Castle, the Deer Park and High Force Waterfall and 10% off at the Yurt Café, Stables Shop and High Force Hotel, in addition to access to the East Garden. A Plotters’ Forest adventure playground extension is available.

 

For more information on Raby memberships, please visit www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle/raby-membership/

 

For further information on The Rising, please visit: www.raby.co.uk/about-us/development/raby-castle-development/

 

*The memberships excludes special events.

To celebrate the first stage of the reimagined historic Walled Gardens at Raby Castle nearing completion. Lauren, Raby Castle’s Interpretation and Engagement Assistant has taken a dive into our collections to find some of our favourite floral items. The East Garden will be shared exclusively for members this Summer before the full scheme opens in 2024. This exquisite space, designed by Luciano Giubbilei comprises of a grass amphitheatre for outdoor events, with evergreen-bordered herbaceous beds set amongst interconnected paths surrounded by blossom – all in view of the spectacular sight of Raby Castle. To become a Raby Member https://www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle/raby-memberships/

Botany book ‘The Flower Garden Display’

This beautifully illustrated book is from 1734 and depicts around 400 flowers, divided into chapters based on each month of the year. It describes the method of cultivation (whether they need to be grown in a greenhouse, for example) and the history of each plant.

The book claims to be useful not only for those ‘curious in gardening’ but also for painters, carvers, and ‘for the ladies, as patterns for working and painting in water-colours, or furniture for the closet.’

The book in Raby’s collection could have been for the latter, as an inscription on the title page reads ‘Katherine Lowther, her book, 1734.’ Henry Vane, 2nd Earl of Darlington married into the influential Lowther family through Margaret Lowther in 1757.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceramics

This plate is part of a dessert serving set which is decorated with flowers, fauna and butterflies. They are made by Mintons, which was considered one of Europe’s leading ceramic factories during the Victorian period.

Interestingly, these items have evidence of historic repair in the staples holding the cracked plate together. Perhaps this set was well used and loved- or members of the household just couldn’t bear to throw them away.

 

Photograph: James Tullett and his gardening team

This photograph of Raby’s gardeners shows the size of the workforce dedicated to the walled gardens during the early 1900s. They were responsible for cultivating plants, being innovative with growing methods- such as using heat to grow more exotic plants- and producing food.

The gardening team were led by a Head Gardener, during this time James Tullett (the man sat in the centre with the impressive moustache.) He is mentioned in the Teesdale Mercury for winning several growing competitions, and a highlight of his career being the Royal visit of King Edward VII in 1905:

‘His Majesty went away with a bunch of the famed “Raby carnations” with him. This, of course, all stands to the credit of Mr J. Tullett, the head gardener.’

 

To celebrate the Coronation of King Charles, we’ve selected items from Raby’s collections to add to rooms around the castle. These represent different historical coronations and include copies of invites, commemorative magazines, and orders of service. Below are some highlights to spot when you visit, which will be on display in the castle until Sunday 3rd September.

At your service: Footmen uniforms

Footmen were employed to serve and attend to a family, both in the household and when travelling. The role was considered to be a luxury and status symbol; the uniforms in the Raby collection are designed with style in mind and to match the colours of the State Coach. They were also created for men of similar stature and build.

The uniform, or livery, consisted of jackets, waistcoats, knee breeches and stockings. The buttons were personalised, and depict the Vane family insignia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crowning glory: coronation decorations

These large decorations were made to celebrate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, which took place in 1911 and was attended by the 9^th Lord and Lady Barnard.

The entire set consists of a G, M, two Rs (for Rex and Regina) and two crowns. They have hangers to hold red glass jars, which contained candles to light up the display.

While we don’t have any photographs of the decorations in use, the Teesdale Mercury reported that they were positioned at the entrance to the castle and were decorated with ‘fairy lamps.’ We can only imagine how long it would have taken to light all the individual jars!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A royal visit: William III of Netherlands portrait

This portrait shows His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, who by unfortunate timing, discovered he was to become King of the Netherlands while visiting Raby Castle in 1849. After his coronation, he gifted the 2^nd Duke and Duchess with this portrait.

However, the Prince didn’t want to become King. William resented his Father, William II’s constitutional changes which he saw as limiting royal power. Upon hearing of his father’s death, William was reluctant to leave Raby Castle and return to his duties, and he repeatedly contemplated abdicating when his eldest son William came of age.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These items will be on display until Sunday 3rd of September. Alongside this, we have a Special Tours: Raby and the Royal Family which explores the links between the Royal Family and Raby as well as an exclusive Spotlight on the Archives: Raby’s Royal Connections which provides a unique insight with the Castle’s very one Archivist.

 

In honour of the coronation of King Charles III, County Durham’s iconic Raby Castle will be shining a spotlight on Raby’s royal connections for the first time, as it showcases records from its family archive for the public.

On 27th May, archivist Gabriel Damaszk will showcase original records which highlight the castle’s Royal connections including letters, documents and even one of the Great Seals of Queen Elizabeth I in ‘Spotlight on the Archives: Raby’s Royal Connections’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From visitors’ books to royal correspondence, the session will give a fascinating insight into Raby’s eventful past, including delving into the Neville and Vane family histories.

Amongst the treasures shared during the session, visitors will cast their eyes on the castle’s collection of majestic royal Great Seals, some the size of a saucer. At the forefront of this fascinating collection is the Great Seal of Queen Elizabeth I, who confiscated Raby Castle from Charles Neville, 6^th Earl of Westmorland, following his involvement in the failed plot to depose her during the infamous Rising of the North.

The Great Seal, depicting Elizabeth I on horseback, was used by the monarch to approve official documents, with the wax pressed by a specially designed metal matrix, cast during her 45-year reign.

In addition to this icon of the Tudor era, visitors will also witness a beautifully illuminated pedigree scroll, commissioned by William Vane, the 3^rd Earl of Darlington, in 1821. With a lineage dating back to the Norman era, the scroll traces his family tree back to Monmouth, the area from which the Vane family originates.

This invaluable genealogy document highlights the complicated family connections and alliances across the centuries and even gives a glimpse into the family’s ambitions and aspirations.

“Raby Castle’s past has been consistently interwoven with the Royal story over its 1,000-year history,” says Lord Barnard. “Our Archive is an absolute treasure trove of original records and documents, that explore the continued connection between the castle and the monarchy.

“We have a very talented team, including an archivist and curator at Raby, and I am delighted that visitors will be able to explore Raby’s history in more detail this May, inspired by the King’s coronation.”

Further events are planned on the Royal theme, including the ‘Raby and Royals Tour’ on 8^th May. Guests will be escorted around the castle by a knowledgeable senior guide, who will highlight the Royal connections found in paintings, artefacts and items of memorabilia to tell the castle’s unique stories. The tour will also include access behind the scenes, visiting rooms created for important visitors, such as the State Bedroom, and will be a chance to see items made for Royal guests including the Prince Regent who visited in 1806.

Eagle-eyed visitors will also spot new additions to each room on the public route, such as the Raby State Coach in the grand Entrance Hall. The coach, which dates back to the early 19^th century and was used by the family to attend past coronations, will be undergoing live conservation work during the summer months.

The Baron’s Hall will play host to new displays of items from the castle collection, including the coronation robes of a Baron and Baroness, alongside the livery of the Footman who would have attended their carriage at a coronation. Along the route, children will be encouraged to participate in the ‘Raby Royal Children’s Trail’, with lots of clues and pointers, highlighting even the most subtle Royal references in the grand series of rooms.

To conclude the coronation celebrations, on Sunday 14^th May, the Entrance Hall will be the magnificent setting for an elegant ‘Royal Afternoon Tea’. Guests will be treated to a tour of the castle by a senior guide, followed by the opportunity to tuck into delicious feast, fit for a King.

Tickets for the ‘Spotlight on the Archives’ and ‘Raby and Royals Tour’ events start from £25. The Raby Royal Children’s Trail is included in the price of admission. A second archive tour will also be taking place on 24^th June. Tickets for the ‘Royal Afternoon Tea’ start from £30, including a glass of fizz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With so many exciting adventures to be had at Raby Castle this season, an annual membership is the best way to enjoy access to everything and anything Raby Castle has to offer*. The Raby Castle membership begins from £12.50 per year for children from 4 to 12-years-old, with family passes starting at £65 (2 adults + 3 children), with benefits including admission to Raby Castle, the Deer Park and High Force Waterfall and 10% off at the Yurt Café and High Force Hotel. A Plotters’ Forest adventure playground extension is available.

The Castle is open for the season from 1^st March to 29^th October. The Deer Park is open seven days a week, with admission included in a Castle ticket. Tickets for the Plotters’ Forest are sold separately.

More information and opening times can be found on the website www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle/

 

The first stage of a remarkable redesign of Raby’s historic Walled Garden is nearing completion, which will see the launch of a magnificent, grass amphitheatre this summer.

A very special element of the Estate’s ambitious development programme known as ‘The Rising’, is the remodelled Walled Garden, which has been carefully crafted by Lady Barnard, working closely with a world-renowned garden designer Luciano Giubbilei.

The grass amphitheatre, the first of its kind in the north of England, is set in the lower part of the East Garden, enabling future visitors to gaze up at the spectacular sight of the castle on the horizon. This wonderfully unique space will be used for a host of summer activities, including plays and musical events, as well as providing visitors with a beautiful garden for quiet contemplation.

Work began in the Walled Garden in 2022, which is situated just a stone’s throw from 14^th century Raby Castle, home to the Vane family since 1626.

The new design for the East Garden sees evergreen-bordered herbaceous beds at the north of the garden, set amongst interconnected paths, leading visitors to the natural amphitheatre.

The sculptural yew hedge, which has sat at the heart of the historic Walled Garden since the 19^th century, was the main consideration during the design process, with great sensitivity shown to its importance in the landscape.

“The sense of past played such an important part in our design decisions when we embarked on this journey”, says Luciano. “There is so much history that came before us at Raby, and we needed to decide how to move forward with a design that embodied the atmosphere, enabling visitors to seamlessly move from space to space, but at all times, honouring the iconic shadow of Raby Castle in the background.”

Over the last year, the work within the East Garden includes the creation of the tiered amphitheatre, the planting of borders and the construction and establishing of beds. Evergreens and topiary have been introduced to reflect the balance of formality and informality within the structure of the garden, with Taxus hedging and Osmanthus cloud-pruned plants installed across the East Garden to create flow and mirror the form of the historical yew hedge.

“Taxus domes have been planted to delineate the edges of the amphitheatre steps”, says Tim Marshall, Raby Head Gardener. “But it will be the flood of soft muted colours in the herbaceous beds and the dense, structural green of the yew hedges that will draw the eye.”

“The completion of the East Garden will be an exciting milestone for The Rising development”, says Lady Barnard. “At the outset of this project, we had in mind something extraordinary, which would showcase both the formality and natural beauty embedded in this historic landscape. We wanted something unique to Raby and with the addition of the amphitheatre, as a gathering space amongst the colourful planting, we hope that in time, the Walled Garden will be a beautiful place for the local community and visitors to enjoy all year round.”

Work is also underway in the Formal and West Garden. Local contractor Trevor Atkinson is preparing the foundations for the central rill in the Formal Garden, which will create a succinct and flowing line of water from the top of the garden to the South Walk gates, drawing visitors’ eyes onward and up towards the castle. Over the next six months, planting and hard landscaping will continue throughout the Formal and West Gardens, with the opening of the completed Walled Garden to the public planned in 2024.

For the lucky few, there will be the opportunity to sneak a peek at the Walled Garden’s progress ahead of the formal opening to the public. From early summer, Raby Castle members will be invited to tour the completed East Garden, as the planting begins to establish.

Memberships are available from just £25 per year for an adult and £12.50 per child. Members also enjoy benefits including admission to Raby Castle, the Deer Park and High Force Waterfall, and a 10% discount at the Café and High Force kiosk. A Family Membership and Plotters’ Forest adventure playground extension are also available. For more information or to purchase a membership, please visit https://rabyestate.digitickets.co.uk/category/39742?navItem=469308

For more information on the progress of The Rising development, please visit https://www.raby.co.uk/about-us/development/

 

Raby Castle will be opening its gates for the 2023 season on Wednesday 1^st March with a new exciting addition to its famous Entrance Hall.

In honour of the Coronation of King Charles III on 6^th May, the Raby state coach, dating back to the early 19^th century and used by the 9^th Baron and Baroness Barnard to attend the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, will be undergoing conservation throughout the year and will take pride of place in the hall.

The state coach, originally made for the Duke of Cleveland by Rigby & Robinson of Park Lane, London, will remain on show throughout 2023, as local conservators Bob Elsey and Laurie Endean-Olsen undertake their work, painstakingly repairing fabrics, removing the residue of discoloured polish and cleaning every inch of the elegant vehicle.

Raby Castle has seen numerous Royal visits over the centuries, most recently, a visit from HM The King in 1983, as well as two visits from his namesake Charles I during his reign, in 1633 and 1639, and it is said that he was greatly struck by Raby. He is said to have rebuked his host Sir Henry Vane the Elder, who referred to his home as a, “mere hillock of stone” by saying, “Call ye that a hillock of stone? By my faith, I have not such another hillock of stones in all my realms”.

The family’s state carriage is a rare treasure, as during the conflicts of World War I and World War II, many estates’ carriages were dismantled to garner scrap metal to help the war effort. It is rare to find a carriage collection in such good condition, so this is a truly spectacular opportunity for visiting enthusiasts to see such a special item[1], and is just a taste of what is to come for the Raby Coronation year.

“This restoration of Raby’s state coach marks what is going to be a very exciting year for the castle,” says Lord Barnard. “We look forward to welcoming visitors old and new to our full programme of activities for 2023, which includes plenty of events to commemorate the coronation year.”

In addition to the exciting new celebratory coronation additions, Raby Castle will be hosting a series of events for the whole family to enjoy throughout the 2023 season. From Mothers’ Day Castle tours and afternoon tea, to Easter trails through the Plotters’ Forest and Deer Park, and Serene Sunday yoga sessions in the shadow of the magnificent Castle, it is set to be the beginning of a season to remember at Raby.

With so many exciting adventures to be had at Raby Castle this season, a Raby Membership is the best way to enjoy access to everything and anything Raby Castle has to offer*. The Raby Membership begins from £12.50 per year for children from 4 to 12-years-old, with family passes starting at £65 (2 adults + 3 children), with benefits including admission to Raby Castle, the Deer Park and High Force Waterfall and 10% off at the Yurt Café and High Force Hotel. A Plotters’ Forest adventure playground extension is available.

This Castle will be open for the season from 1^st March to 29^th October. The Deer Park is open seven days a week, with admission included in a Castle ticket. Tickets for the Plotters’ Forest are sold separately.

To purchase your ticket 

[1] The full carriage collection is not on public display

Under the Microscope: A look at Lady Anne Monson ‘Remarkable Lady Botanist’

Daughter of Henry Vane, 1^st Earl of Darlington and Lady Grace Fitzroy, grandchild of Charles II, Lady Anne Vane was born in 1726 and grew up at Raby Castle. During her childhood, the Raby Castle walled gardens were being developed and interesting botanical books could be found in the collection, such as this example from 1734. These events could have paved the way for a life which was later guided by a passion for plants.

Anne had a controversial start to her adult life. In 1746, she married Charles Hope-Vere and the couple had two sons before the marriage was dissolved by Act of Parliament in 1757, due to the birth of an illegitimate child while Hope-Vere was away travelling. Later in 1757, she married Colonel George Monson. Her new husband’s career was with the Indian military, meaning she could travel away from the scandal in England, and eventually found herself in Calcutta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Growing’ Influence

Aside from Anne’s personal life, her time was devoted to botany and the study of plants. She developed an influential name for herself in botanic circles, recognised for her expertise at the time by famed Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, who Anne also greatly admired.

Her contemporaries credit Lady Anne for assisting James Lee (a celebrated Scottish gardener) in translating Linnaeus’s Philosophia botanica, the first work to explain the botanical terminology he used to English readers. Published under Lee’s name in 1760 with the title ‘Introduction to Botany’, he credits an anonymous helper in the preface to the book…

‘[Lee] …would readily acknowledge the obligations to those who have kindly helped him in this Undertaking; but as some injunctions Oblige him to be silent on this Head, he must content himself with having said this much to clear himself from any Imputation of Presumption or Arrogance.’

Anne interacted with many other notable botanists during her travels. One was C. P. Thunberg, a pupil of Linnaeus, who she met when visiting the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, en route to Calcutta. Anne collected and recorded specimens, sending samples back to Kew Gardens in London. One specimen Linnaeus went on to name after Anne; the Monsonia speciosa.

Both Anne and her husband died in 1776, just two years after arriving in Calcutta. There was great respect in the field of botany for Anne; upon hearing of her death, John Kennedy wrote

‘Her enthusiasm knew no bounds, and [her] liberal and fostering hand contributed more, perhaps, than any of her contemporaries, by her encouragement and example to the then incipient but not so prevailing taste for the study of botany.’

Sisters in Science

Clas Alströmer, another follower of Lianneus, wrote in 1764 that Anne had made greater progress in botanical science than any other woman,

‘Not superficially- that is common with this sex- but in a close and profound way.’

This could be the reason why in 1762, Anne was possibly one of the first two women to be admitted to the British Museum reading room, a hub for researchers, which contained collections now held in the Science Museum and Natural History Museum. The other woman was her sister, Lady Mary Carr. Lady Mary also grew up at Raby Castle and was the younger sister of Anne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This proves even more interesting when we look closer at two paintings we have recently re-examined at Raby Castle. These 18^th century landscapes depict the River Wear around Finchale Abbey and Cocken Hall, which was where Lady Mary Carr lived after she married. On closer inspection, the paintings include two women; one holding a telescope, the other digging for specimens with a potted plant to one side, leading us to wonder who these two women represent…

If this blog left you curious to learn more, we are holding a Women of Raby readings event on Wednesday 8^th March to celebrate International Women’s Day. Spend an evening discovering more about Anne Monson- including hearing a section from a rather interesting letter written about her by Linnaeus himself!- and other innovative and creative women who have lived at Raby Castle.

March will also see a return of our hugely popular Women of Raby behind the scenes tours. For further information and to book tickets, please follow take a look at our what’s on page www.raby.co.uk/whatson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready to try out a new recipe with the finest Raby venison

Prep Time 30 min

Cook Time    8hours

Serves 6

Ingredients

Venison Dice 800g
Smoked bacon Lardons 200g
Plain Flour 75g (swap to gluten-free flour if preferred!)
Salt 1/2 teaspoon
Black Pepper ¼ teaspoon
Oil 2 tablespoons
Red Onion (chopped) 1
Carrots (chopped) 2
Celery Stalks (chopped) 2
Garlic (crushed) 1 tablespoon.
Cloves 2
Cinnamon Stick 1
Red Wine 125ml
Sugar 1 teaspoon
Thyme 1 teaspoon
Tinned chopped Tomato 800 grams.
Tomato Paste 20g
Bay Leaf 1
Chicken Stock 125ml
Dried Thyme 1/2 teaspoon
Dried Basil 1/2 teaspoon
Dried Parsley 1/2 teaspoon
Dried Rosemary 1/2 teaspoon
Dried Porcini Mushrooms 10g

Note If you would prefer to use Fresh Herbs instead of dried, please do.

Method

 

1. Cover the porcini with boiling kettle water and leave to rehydrate.
2. Season the Venison Dice with sea salt and black pepper, roll in flour then brown them in a In a frying pan with a little oil over a medium heat, turning until well coloured all over. Remove from pan and place into slow cooker.
3. Slice the smoked bacon lardons. Peel the celery, onions, and carrots, then chop into rough 1cm dice. Add to the hot frying and colour slightly, then add to slow cooker.
4. In a pestle and mortar, crush the cloves with 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, then pound.
5. Add to slow cooker all the other ingredients, stir together. Place lid onto slow cooker and cook on a low heat for 8 hours.
6. Season to taste, serve with freshly cooked pasta, with sprinkling of fresh parsley.

 

Recipe by Estate Chef Tom Parry

For Chinese New Year 2023, we’re celebrating a collaboration between Raby Castle and two Postgraduate students from the University of Durham. Beini Wu and Lingqiao Zhang were on a Museum and Artefact Studies course, and as part of their placement at Raby, built on our understanding of the history and culture surrounding our Chinese porcelain collection.

 A tradition of collecting

Historically, the British nobility has a long tradition of collecting. With financial backing, antiquities and artworks came to Britain from all over the world, and these items became a symbol of status and taste.

The popularity of the Chinese style in Britain reached a peak in the mid-18^th century. These products were seen as exotic and intriguing, representing both a new stimulus and an ancient civilization. Europeans also used East Asian elements in their own creations: Dutch Delft Blue pottery and German Meissen both replicated Chinese porcelain, and the imitation of lacquer finish and concept of ‘japanning’ were popular in furniture designs.

Raby and China

Raby Castle has a rich collection of Chinese and Japanese artefacts, ranging from porcelain to furniture and furnishings, and from Chinese and Japanese exports to British imitations. The earliest pieces can be traced back to porcelain made in the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty (late 17^th to early 18^th century.) The latest ones include contemporary work made by a young artist from Jingdezhen, China in 2017.

The collection is mostly export porcelain, including Blanc de Chine (white Chinese porcelain), Blue and White, Famille Vert (Chinese porcelain with green as the dominant colour) and Famille Rose (Chinese porcelain with pink colour enamel). Most export porcelain of the Qing dynasty was produced in the province Guangdong, or sent to Guangdong for colouring, and were catered to the taste of Western collectors at the time.

The ‘Chinese porcelain’ collection at Raby Castle, especially those from the 17th and 18th centuries, are a combination of Chinese, Japanese, and Western aesthetic elements. The pieces below highlight the collection at Raby Castle and explore the owners’ fascination with Chinese and Japanese art and styles, from the Vane family to the present day.

Highlights of the collection

Pulteney crested plates

Produced in 1720, these unassuming Armorial dishes are some of the oldest Chinese pieces in the collection. Armorial ware, or heraldic china, are ceramics decorated with a coat of arms. The ones at Raby bear the arms of the Pulteney family, whose vast fortune was inherited by the Vanes through marriage. The plates were originally hung in Bath House, the London home of the Earls of Bath, before being inherited and brought to Raby by William Harry, 3rd Earl of Darlington (later the 1^st Duke of Cleveland) in 1807.

Armorial porcelain was first produced in the 16th century and was a key export. The UK alone imported more than 4,000 different styles of Armorial Porcelain from China. These were specially commissioned by individuals and families, and exporters would specify in detail the varieties, wares and size required.

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Pagodas

The pagoda was originally a stone or brick structure designed to store Buddhist relics and sutras (canonical scriptures). Upon the spread of Buddhism into China, these were combined with traditional wooden pavilions and developed into a large structure visitors could walk around. Bells were often hung from the eaves of the pagoda, clearing the mind and driving away evil… and more practically being used to deter birds.

These two hexagonal porcelain pagodas were specially made for export. A set was first ordered from China by the Prince of Wales (later Prince Regent and George IV) between 1803 and 1804, and there are still six of them in the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

The pair at Raby Castle have eight storeys, with real and false doors on each. The body is in blue and white, while the base is famille rose. They are similar to the two smaller pagodas in the Royal Pavilion, and were probably made at the same time.

The fish-shaped component on the corner of the pagoda is a mythical Chinese animal ‘chiwen,’ who had a dragon’s head and a fish’s tail. Most traditional Chinese buildings are wooden, so images of fish and dragons were a symbol of protection against fire.

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Blue and white porcelain

In blue and white porcelain, cobalt oxide is used as the raw material for decoration, which is then covered with a transparent glaze and fired over a high-temperature reduction flame. The cobalt is a vivid blue after firing. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, blue and white became the mainstream porcelain.

Raby’s barrel-shaped porcelain stool- originally used for sitting outdoors- is painted with a pattern of lions playing with balls. The various motifs on Chinese porcelain and furniture are not only decorative, but have different auspicious meanings. The lion pattern is symbolic of good fortune and good weather. As a result, lion dances have been performed at major festivals throughout China’s history. This custom was represented in paper-cutting, stone and wood carvings, and was first used in ceramics during the Song dynasty (960-1276).

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Meissen Birds

The transfer of Chinese porcelain to the West not only influenced artistic styles, but also brought with it Chinese ceramic production techniques.

In the early 18th century, a French missionary shared information about the art of glazing and firing in Jingdezhen (known as the ‘Porcelain Capital’) to Europe, greatly enlightening the European porcelain industry. In 1708, Europeans also discovered kaolin- a type of clay used for porcelain. In 1710, Meissen porcelain was successfully produced, signifying the birth of Europe’s first porcelain factory. The white porcelain animals in Baron’s Hall are some of Meissen’s earlier works.

When producing the large Pelican, the modeller faced a variety of technical challenges. All five existing copies have several fire cracks on the bottom edge of the walling. The bird is seen sitting with its’ head tilted to rest on its back; the posture was partly for practical reasons, with the body being used to support the weight of the pelican’s head.

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Contemporary pieces

Raby’s love of the Chinese style continues to this day. In the entrance corridor are two pieces recently purchased by the current owners, one of which is a large begonia bowl from China. The inscription on the bowl indicates that its name is ‘Fresh lotus,’ and was made in Jingdezhen by Fang Nan in Ding You (2017). Ding You is a year in the sixty-year cycle of traditional Chinese chronology.

Fang Nan, formerly known as Ning Fengying, was born in 1979 in Jingdezhen into a family of ceramicists. She studied high-temperature kiln-glaze painting with her father as a child and has continued to innovate over the past thirty years, specializing in colour glazes.

The begonia bowl was popular mainly from the late Tang to the Southern Song dynasties in China (about 750-1280) and was named after its’ four-petal mouth, which was shaped like a begonia flower. The lotus flower is a common subject in traditional Chinese painting and has been loved by literati (Chinese scholar-officials) throughout the ages for its ‘undefiled’ character. The piece combines modern ink painting techniques with traditional porcelain styles.

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See if you can spot our Chinese porcelain dotted around the castle when we re-open on 1^st March 2023.