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Clumber (2)

By the Duchess of Newcastle

The State Drawing Room.

Leaving the Hall, the visitor naturally turns into the Library, which is on the south side. This undoubtedly is the finest room in the house, built entirely of old Spanish mahogany in the Empire style, and with rich furniture which includes two very fine escritoires, which tradition says were formerly the property of Louis XIV., and four other tables of the same period, all of which are worthy of attention. The bibliophile will at once turn to the books, which include several of Caxton's, a first folio of Shakespeare, a first edition of Dante, a beautiful Book of Hours, richly illuminated, also many valuable manuscripts decorated in a sumptuous manner. The illustration gives but an inadequate idea of the great beauty of this charming room.

Leaving the Library, and passing the Small Dining-room and Yellow Drawing-room, the State Drawing-room, richly decorated in cream and pale blue, is entered. Over the windows are some fine carvings which formerly decorated the Doge's Palace; the Buhl furniture, beautiful as it is, is generally passed by the visitor, who hastens to examine the rare china which decorates the room. Three Chelsea vases, valued at £20,000, are generally the most admired, although the Sevres, Dresden, Worcester, and Crown Derby examples are all exquisite. The pictures include "Rinaldo and Armida," by Vandyck, the "Finding of Cyrus," by Castiglione, and two full-length portraits of the fourth Duke and his wife, by Lawrence.

The Yellow Drawing-Room.

Returning to the Yellow Drawing-room, the visitor will admire what is considered to be the most beautiful chimneypiece in Great Britain, built entirely of white marble, which was bought at Beckford's sale at Fonthill; the chiselling is exquisite, and the figures are relieved by a tinted background. The pictures in this room are noteworthy: among them are Gainsborough's "Beggar Boys"; the portrait of an orator, by Rembrandt; "Sigismonda mourning over the Heart of her Murdered Lover," by Correggio; a Poussin, and several Canalettos.

In the Small Dining-room there are other well-known pictures, including Vandyck's "Descent from the Cross," three Claude Lorraines, "The Battle of the Boyne," by Vandermeulen; several Rubens, Poussins, Canalettos, etc.

The Red Drawing Room.

Crossing to the north side of the house, the visitor reaches the Large Dining-room, which is decorated in blue and gold. In this room are to be found Snyders' famous Market pieces, one of which was seriously damaged in the fire, half of it being quite destroyed; there are also some interesting examples by Weenix and Zuccarelli. Crossing to the east side, and entering the Red Drawing-room, we find some more pictures of interest, notably two portraits reputed to be by Gainsborough, and in a catalogue printed in 1800 his name is given as the painter; whether this be true or not, they are certainly beautiful examples of the painter's art. In this room all the paintings are portraits, and include one of William Cavendish, first Duke of Newcastle, by Dobson ; the Prime Minister Duke, by Hoare, and his brother the Lord Chancellor by the same artist; also an excellent portrait by Edward VI.

Passing from the Red Drawing-room, we reach the Study, which is entirely decorated in oak, some of which is old and curious. The pictures in this room include one of Queen Mary by Heere, which was badly damaged in the fire, and has now to be kept under glass. There are also two Sir Joshua Reynolds, two Hogarths, and others.

The Billiard Room.

Crossing the corridor from the Study, there are two rooms devoted to the Duke's favourite pursuit of photography, which are fitted with the usual appliances and apparatus, and are used in conjunction with a studio, which has been built in the near vicinity of the house. Two years ago the upper part of the studio was turned completely round, by a process similar to that adopted in America for the removal of buildings. This feat was accomplished by the Duke's own work­men, who are employed on the estate. The Billiard-room, built after the fire, contains examples of the works of  Romney, Vandyck, Lely, Salvator Rosa, Richardson, and others. A long gallery was built about six years ago. Visitors to Clumber generally pay a great  deal  of atten­tion to the Chapel, which stands about a hundred and fifty yards from the house. This building was erected by the present Duke and opened in 1889. The style is fourteenth-century Gothic, and the interior has a warm appearance, owing to its being constructed of red sandstone. The general effect is that of a genuine fourteenth-century chapel untouched by the devastating hand of the Reformation. The altar is a beautiful piece of white alabaster, behind which there are some hangings some day to be replaced by a reredos. The carvings of the screen and stalls are exquisite, and in keeping with the subdued tone that is prevalent throughout. In the Lady chapel there is a side altar with the Annunciation as subject; the roof is decorated by the Magnificat in Latin in gold letters. The effect is very fine when seen in the soft light, derived from the narrow windows, which are all by Kemp, and are exquisite both in colour and in design.

The Lincoln Terrace.

In the pleasure ground the Lincoln Terrace is the most notable, as the stone was brought from Italy, early in the century, at a cost of £10,000. The trees are chiefly cedar, and the general effect is very pleasing, especially if viewed from the lake. The trees which seem to flourish best at Clumber are cedars, Scotch firs, birches, and limes: and one avenue of the latter is nearly three miles long, ending with the Apleyhead Lodge, which is one of the features of the park.

In the middle of this avenue (at Hardwick) there are the kennels and farm, and those who are interested in animals find some of the old strain of Clumber spaniels, which breed was introduced into this country by a former Duke. Dogs have always been favourites at Clumber, but perhaps never so much so as at present; for in the kennels, in addition to a number of the well-known classes, there are fifty Borzois (or Russian wolf-hounds), many of which are well known on the show bench, for during the past five years they have secured over four hundred first prizes. They are beautiful animals, and, in addition to their other good qualities, are most affectionate. During the season the pack of some eighteen couple of harriers shows excellent sport.

In an article of this kind, it is difficult to give an idea of what a seat like Clumber is like, and the illustrations must be relied upon to assist the reader in forming what is necessarily a somewhat vague and imperfect picture.

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