Castle Howard, Malton, North Yorkshire, England
Record Id: 714
Although much of Castle Howard can be attributed to the 18th century it is actually made up of various phases of development.
In the first phase, between about 1700 and 1750 Ray Wood, the Temple Terrace and the South Parterre were created.
The Wilderness (now lost) which lay beyond the parterre was also constructed during this time. It was a symmetrical maze, possibly made from clipped hedges, and can be seen in the third volume of Vitruvius Britannicus dating to 1725 (Saumarez Smith, 1997: II-III).
This first phase of construction also saw the building of the Walled Garden. Work began in 1703, and by the 1750s the garden had doubled in size.
The next phase of development took place from about 1720 to 1800 and involved the creation of the two lakes. The New River and the bridge over it were also constructed during this time.
During the mid-19th century William Andrews Nesfield was employed to extend the south waterways. He created the Prince of Wales and the Atlas Fountain and also the design of the South Parterre. This design lasted less than 50 years, being replaced in the 1890s with a simplified and less costly design.
Castle Howard was opened to the public in 1952 and since then work in the grounds has concentrated largely on restoration. Garden buildings and statues have been restored, as well as Nesfield's waterways. Grounds staff have also removed some of the late-19th-century planting to open up views into the surrounding parkland.
The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
NOTE: This entry is a summary. Because of the complexity of this site, the standard Register entry format would convey neither an adequate description nor a satisfactory account of the development of the landscape. The user is advised to consult the references given below for more detailed accounts. Many Listed Buildings exist within the site, not all of which have been here referred to. Descriptions of these are to be found in the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest produced by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT
The estate was acquired by the Howard family in 1571 when it was the site of Henderskelfe Castle and village. Henderskelfe was described by John Leland in 1540 who estimated that the park was '4 miles yn cumpace, and hath much fair young wood yn it' (quoted in Antiqs J 1979). Charles Howard, third Earl of Carlisle rejected a scheme of around 1698 by George London (died 1714) with canals, avenues and circular lawns. Vanbrugh was consulted and visited the site in 1699, continuing to work on it until his death in 1726. Works to Vanbrugh's designs continued after his death, probably supervised by his assistant Nicholas Hawksmoor (1661-1736) who was responsible for the design of some of the park structures.
Later 18th-century works included the creation of the Great Lake on the north side of the Castle. In 1850 the south parterre was remodelled by W A Nesfield (1793-1881) and the Atlas Fountain (Nesfield with figures by J Thomas, listed grade I) was installed. Nesfield also undertook works to the South Lake and designed a cascade (listed grade II) at its east end. Nesfield's parterre proved expensive to maintain and it was replaced by the ninth Countess in the early 1890s with the present (1998) grass terrace and yew hedges. At the same time the banks of the South Lake were remodelled to give less rigid outlines.
Horace Walpole is one of the better known of the many commentators on Castle Howard and following a visit he described it in 1772 as presenting 'the grandest scenes of rural magnificence' which allowed him to see 'at one view... a palace, a town, a fortified city, temples on high places, woods worthy of being each a metropolis of the Druids, the noblest lawn on earth fenced by half the horizon, and a mausoleum that would tempt one to be buried alive' (quoted in Jellicoe et al 1986).
The estate is in private ownership (1998).
Site timeline
1699 to 1702: Plans for Castle Howard are discussed by Lord Carlisle and John Vanbrugh.
1703: Work began on the Walled Garden.
1706: Work began in Ray Wood.
1724 to 1726: The South Lake was created.
1730 to 1734: New River was created.
1744: The New River Bridge was created.
1790 to 1799: The Great Lake was created north of the house.
1862 to 1864: William Andrews Nesfield extended the South Waterways.
1940 to 1944: Ray Wood was clear felled and the Temple of Venus collapsed.
09/11/1940: A fire in the house destroyed the dome and nearly 20 rooms.
After 1952: The house and grounds were opened to the public in 1952 and the gardens have undergone various phases of restoration since.
1952: Castle Howard opens to the public for the first time.
1986 to 1992: The lakes, fountains and waterways were all restored.
1995 to 1996: All the lead statues in the grounds are restored.
1997: The formation of the Castle Howard Arboretum Trust.
2000: The West Garden was redesigned and the Pretty Wood Pyramid restored.
2001: The 7th Earl's monument was restored.`
People associated with this site
Architect: Mr John Carr (born 1723 died 1807)
Architect: Sir William Chambers (born 1723 died 17/02/1796)
Architect: Mr Frederick Pepys Cockerell (born 1833 died 1878)
Architect: Daniel Garrett (died 1753)
Architect: Nicholas Hawksmoor (born 1661 died 25/03/1736)
Nurseryman: George London (died 12/01/1714)
Architect: William Andrews Nesfield (born 1793 died 02/03/1881)
Architect: Sir Thomas Robinson, 1st Baronet (born 1702 died 03/03/1777)
Designer: Stephen Switzer (born 1682 died 08/06/1745)
Architect: Sir John Vanbrugh (born 24/01/1664 died 1726)
Features
temple
Feature created: 1724 to 1738
Creator: Sir John Vanbrugh (born 24/01/1664 died 1726)
The Temple of the Four Winds was originally known as the Temple of Diana because of the association of a statue of Diana in Ray Wood.
It was designed by Vanbrugh and is located at the eastern end of the Temple Terrace at the south east corner of Raywood.
The temple consists of a cube with dome and four porticoes. Four female figures are located on the steps of the temple.
Beneath the temple is a cellar which was used for the storage and preparation of food.
obelisk
Feature created: 1714 to 1715
Creator: Sir John Vanbrugh (born 24/01/1664 died 1726)
The Obelisk was designed by Vanbrugh and is located at the head of the drive to the west of the house.
It was built to commemorate the Duke of Marlborough's victories and the completion of the house. It stands 100 feet(30.48 metres) high and has two inscriptions on it. The first, in Latin, commemorates the Duke of Marlborough. The second, in English, is a statement of posterity for the aspirations of Lord Carlisle and his family.
gatehouse
Feature created: 1719 to 1758
Creator: Sir John Vanbrugh (born 24/01/1664 died 1726)
Creator: Sir Thomas Robinson, 1st Baronet (born 1702 died 03/03/1777)
The Gatehouse or Pyramid Gate was built by Vanbrugh.
It is located along the Avenue west of the house and grounds. The Gatehouse is Egyptian or Roman in style and is topped by a pyramid. The wings to the Gatehouse were added by Sir Thomas Robinson in 1756-8 and the building became an Inn.
Mock fortification walls extend either side of the Gatehouse for a half a mile in both directions. Each tower has a different design and is built in the gothic or medieval style.
mausoleum
Feature created: 1729 to 1749
Creator: Sir Thomas Robinson, 1st Baronet (born 1702 died 03/03/1777)
The Mausoleum was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor but it has significant alterations by Lord Morpeth, Sir Thomas Robinson and Lord Burlington.
It is located nearly a mile from the house towards the south east.
It stands 90 feet(27.4 metres) high. It is a cylindrical structure supported by a colonnade of 20 pillars and is surrounded by a circular bastion wall. Steps lead up to the domed chapel.
Inside the chapel the ceiling rises 70 feet(21.3 metres) in the air and has carved decoration which includes cherubim's heads and acanthus leaves. Eight Corinthian columns surround the interior wall.
Beneath the chapel is the crypt which contains 63 loculi for receiving coffins.
The Mausoleum is not open to the public.
gate
Feature created: 1720 to 1729
Creator: Nicholas Hawksmoor (born 1661 died 25/03/1736)
The Carrmire Gate was built in the 1720s by Nicholas Hawksmoor.
It is located along the Avenue west of the house and grounds.
It is a rubble built arch with a crenellated wall and two turrets. The whole structure was designed in the gothic or medieval style.
statue
Feature created: 1700 to 1733
The Statue of Apollo is located at the southern end of the Lime Walk but originally lay within Ray Wood.
Apollo stands on a large pedestal which has carvings of villages, rocks, mountains, and waterfalls on it.
octagonal temple
Feature created: 1736
Creator: Nicholas Hawksmoor (born 1661 died 25/03/1736)
The Temple of Venus was designed by Hawksmoor and is located a quarter of a mile to the north of the Temple of the Four Winds.
Only the pedestal survives and this was much grassed over when surveying took place in 2001.
The original design was an open rotunda of eight Tuscan columns under an octagonal entablature and dome. In the centre stood a statue of Venus which is now located in the Walled Garden.
In 1931 the temple was already very ruinous. When Ray Wood was clear felled in the early 1940s a tree was felled on top of it so that it would collapse because it was feared to be unsafe.
pyramid
Feature created: 1728
Creator: Nicholas Hawksmoor (born 1661 died 25/03/1736)
The Pyramid was designed by Hawksmoor.
It is located east of the Gatehouse (Pyramid Gate) and is within full view of the house.
It is a squat pyramid in rough grass. Inside is a colossal bust of Lord William Howard, the founder of the Carlisle branch of the Howard family and their fortune.
It is not open to the public.
avenue
Feature created: 1700 to 1733
The Avenue is located west of the house and grounds.
It is a five mile straight road running due north.
As visitors approach Castle Howard the road deliberately rises and falls providing teasing glimpses of the house.
© Copyright Parks and Gardens Data Services Ltd. 2007