Seaton Delaval Hall

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The design is of a centre block, or corps de logis, containing the state and principal rooms, between two flanking wings. The wings have a centre projection of three bays, crowned by pediment, either side of which are 7 bays of sash windows above a ground floor arcade. The wings contain the stables in the east, while the west wing houses secondary and service accommodation.

Since completion of the house in 1728, it has had an unfortunate history. Neither architect nor patron lived to see its completion; it then passed through a succession of heirs being lived in only intermittently.

History

The Delaval family had owned the estate since the time of the Norman conquest. Admiral Delaval, having made his fortune from bounty while in the navy, purchased the estate from an impoverished kinsman. (He had also served as a British envoy during the reign of Queen Anne.) The Admiral had originally wanted John Vanbrugh to modernize and enhance the existing mansion, but upon viewing the site, Vanbrugh felt he could do nothing and advised complete demolition of all except the ancient chapel near to the mansion. The resulting new mansion was to be the last country house Vanbrugh designed—it is regarded as his finest work. The style of architecture is known as English Baroque, which Vanbrugh evolved from the more decorated and architecturally lighter continental baroque popular in Europe.

In 1822 the Centre Block was gutted by fire, and the house was deserted (it was partially restored in 1862–63). In spite of further restoration in 1959, the house was to remain unoccupied until the 1980s, when after a period of 160 years, Edward Delaval Henry Astley, 22nd Baron Hastings moved into the west wing. It became his permanent home until his death in 2007. While the exterior is still a perfect example of English baroque at its finest, the interiors of the state rooms remain unrestored from the fire.

The following is an extract from a book presented by the "Education Committee of the County of Northumberland as a memento of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and a reminder of your loyalty to Her Majesty and to the beautiful County of Northumberland." 1953.

The great house of Seaton Delaval stands in stately splendour in its park at the end of the mile-long avenue — aristocratic, austere, redolent of departed grandeur. Fire and the passing years have left their mark on the old house, and no longer do its marble halls echo the wild laughter of the gay Delavals.

When Admiral George Delaval came into the estate in the early 18th century he called in John Vanbrugh to pull down the old house and build a new one which should match the splendours of Castle Howard and other great houses in the North of England; thus would it amply reflect his wealth – wealth that was amassing slowly but inevitably with the increasing demand for coal on his estate.

John Vanbrugh first surveyed the scene some time in 1718 and by 1728 the new house was finished; but the admiral, alas, was never able to revel in its magnificence, for a year or two earlier he had died after falling from his horse, and his nephew Francis had inherited the property.

Seaton Delaval, with its lofty Ionic portico, is one of Vanbrugh’s finest works. It is based on the Palladian style introduced into this country by Inigo Jones. The main block (with the Ionic portico) rises to a gabled attic storey flanked by two towers with corner chimneys. It has been uninhabited since 1822, when it was almost gutted by a disastrous fire, said to have been caused by jackdaws nesting in the chimneys. The effects of the fire are well seen in the great hall, which was originally 30 feet high but is now open to the roof high above. In niches in the wall are grim, blackened statues of the Muses.

The west wing of Seaton Delaval, which was damaged in an earlier fire, but restored to the original plan, is distinguished by a great colonnade and boasts a loft vaulted kitchen. The great feature of the east wing is the stable, a sixty-foot chamber of palatial design – with stalls and mangers of stone fit for the finest steeds. Between the two wings is a great open courtyard 180 feet long and 152½ feet broad.

Seen above the trees in the park is a stone mausoleum with a majestic lead-covered dome and a portico resting on huge monoliths weighing several tons. It was erected by Lord Delaval to his only son, John, who died in 1775 aged 20, “as a result of having been kicked in a vital organ by a laundry maid to whom he was paying his addresses.” Also in the park is an orangery crowned by cheerful figures of cherubs and some splendid leaden statuary groups; one of these shows a slight figure of David, with empty sling, lightly poised above the crouching form of Goliath, who has his thumbs doubled inside his palms, a Northumbrian precaution against witchcraft.

Legend

Some believe that as soon as the house was rebuilt, the sea captain living there (Captain Francis Delaval?) was called to sea and his wife Annabel had to live in the empty house alone. After five years, she was told that her husband had been lost at sea. She refused to believe this and waited for his return. They say that to this day, if you look at the window closest to the door on the upper right hand side of the central block, you can see her ghost walking past the window — but if you go into the room you cannot see her. She got her name, the White Lady, because she is completely white from head to toe. If you want to see her, Seaton Delaval Hall is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm until 6pm.

Current status

On 1 September 2008, the National Trust launched an appeal for £6.3million to bring Seaton Delaval Hall into the Trust's custody and preserve the Hall, its gardens and grounds. [ [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-localtoyou/w-yorkshire_ne/w-appeals-sdlh-2.htm Seaton Delaval Hall: Save it, Shape it (National Trust website accessed 12:22am 10 Sep 2008) ] ]

More views

See also

For a detailed architectural appraisal of Seaton Delaval Hall see John Vanbrugh

A house bearing a strong resemblance to Seaton Delaval Hall was constructed in India in around 1800 for Gore Ouseley. Dilkusha Kothi, on the banks of the Gomti near Lucknow, now lies in ruins.

References

External links

* [http://www.aboutbritain.com/SeatonDelavalHall.htm AboutBritain.com]
* [http://www.seatondelaval.org.uk SeatonDelaval.org.uk]
* [http://www.seatondelaval.org SeatonDelaval.org]
* [http://travel.webshots.com/album/560596075LxWdgM/ Photos of Seaton Delaval Hall]