Favourite Things: Grand Painting with a Modern Message
As we continue our Favourite Things series, Senior Guide Keith Simpson shares his fascination with one of the most dramatic paintings in the Castle, ‘Marcus Curtius Leaping into the Gulf’ by Luca Giordano. This imposing piece of art takes pride of place in the dining room, where distinguished guests would have been entertained. Keith says: […]
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Our Favourite Things: A Personal Look at Raby’s Collections
Raby Castle is home to an incredible collection of art, artefacts and antiques which have been curated and cared for over many centuries. Everyone who is part of the Raby family, whether staff or volunteer, has their own favourite and over the coming weeks they will be introducing these to you on our blog and […]
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‘Hillocks of Stone’; The towers of Raby Castle
“One feels as if these forked cliffs of stone had something of the solemnity of a mountain top, in remembering the hundreds of years they have towered above the country, and stood unshaken as the wind howled and raved around them”. Handbook for Raby Castle, 4th Duchess of Cleveland (1870) For many visitors one […]
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Raby’s Surprising Connections with Puritan New England
Back in the 1600’s a young and adventurous Henry Vane, ancestor of Raby Castle’s current Lord Barnard, emigrated to join the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Our curator Julie Biddlecombe-Brown reveals who he was, why he went and what happened next. First, a bit of background about the Vane family at the time In 1626 Henry Vane […]
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Feature Fridays with Historic Houses
We are delighted to be involved in a fantastic initiative by Historic Houses which is showcasing some of the intriguing features of the nation’s heritage properties. Feature Fridays takes a different theme each week and explores some of the unique characteristics of buildings up and down the country, along with the fascinating stories behind them. […]
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The link between two County Durham Castles, Barnard and Raby – Raby Estates
County Durham is home to many magnificent Castles, including Barnard Castle and Raby Castle, which are just a stones throw from one another. Perched above the river Tees, the remains of the once imposing Barnard Castle, found in the Teesdale market town of the same name, can be seen from the riverbank. Just a few […]
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Feature Focus – A Grand Entrance at Raby Castle
As the use of carriages increased from the late 17th Century, the Grand Entrance Hall at Raby Castle underwent a major transformation. In this Feature Focus, our curator Julie Biddlecombe-Brown shares the stories of visitors arriving at Raby’s Grand Entrance, and how this magnificent arrival at Raby Castle has been featured in recent filming at […]
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Historic Inn at High Force Restored to Former Glory
The High Force Hotel in scenic Upper Teesdale has completed the final phase of a six-month refurbishment programme led by Lady Barnard and designed to enhance its country inn heritage. Work on the ground floor bar, dining and reception areas was completed during the autumn and introduced traditional framed art prints, period furniture and the Raby […]
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Discover the Waterfalls of Upper Teesdale
The reason Upper Teesdale is so famous for its spectacular waterfalls dates back nearly 300 million years. Molten volcanic rock solidified to create the Whin Sill, a thick sill of dolerite which is still a feature of the North East landscape to this day, resisting erosion and channelling the River Tees over steep drops, gentler […]
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