Stanwick Park
Encyclopedia
Stanwick Park was a palladian country house
at Stanwick St John
in Yorkshire
. It was re-built by the 1st Duke of Northumberland
, a great patron of the arts, c1739-1740, mostly to his own designs. The Duke's principal seat was Alnwick Castle
thus Stanwick Park was always a secondary residence. The 1st Duke furnished the interior of the house with many works of art including paintings by Canaletto
. As a secondary seat the house was often allocated to a Dowager Duchess of Northumberland. During World War I
the house served as a military hospital. Following the end of the war it remained empty. In 1918 on the death of 7th Duke of Northumberland
his heirs became liable for large death duties as a consequence in 1922 8th Duke of Northumberland
sold the estate. The house was demolished in 1923.
For many years, previous to World War I, the house had been the residence of the widow
of the 4th Duke of Northumberland
, Eleanor, Duchess of Northumberland. The Duchess lived for 40 years at the house until her own death in 1911. She became so attached to the estate that she chose to be buried in the village church, which she had rebuilt by Salvin
, rather than the Northumberland vault
in Westminster Abbey
. During her occupancy of the house the gardens were expanded and developed, these included an Italian garden also designed by Salvin. During this period the gardens were renowned for their glass house
s producing, what at the time were considered, rare and exotic fruits such as bananas, peaches, grapes, figs and nectarines, some varieties such as the "Stanwick nectarine" were propagated and bred on the estate. The "Stanwick nectarine" was introduced to the United Kingdom by John Barker
.
The interior of the house contained many fine 18th century features, before the demolition some of the decorations and motifs were removed. Three of the rooms were removed completely and are today believed to be those re-assembled in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
. Comparisons with the extant photographs of the house interiors cast doubt upon this, and the links are doubtful; the director of the institute visited Alnwick in the thirties to check on the provenance - no record seem to exist of his ultimate findings. A firm called Robersons in London were in this business. It seems possible that since there were 22 rooms from different houses being traded, of which only three were offered from Stanwick, there may have been an error. Museums in Roslyn, NY, and Toronto, as well as the collection of William Randolph Hearst are also alleged to have Stanwick rooms.
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
at Stanwick St John
Stanwick St John
Stanwick St John is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated between the towns of Darlington and Richmond, close to Scotch Corner and the remains of the Roman fort and bridge at Piercebridge....
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. It was re-built by the 1st Duke of Northumberland
Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland
Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG, PC was an Engish peer, landowner and art patron.He was born Hugh Smithson, the son of Langdale Smithson and grandson of Sir Hugh Smithson, 3rd Baronet from whom he inherited the baronetcy in 1733...
, a great patron of the arts, c1739-1740, mostly to his own designs. The Duke's principal seat was Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is a castle and stately home in the town of the same name in the English county of Northumberland. It is the residence of the Duke of Northumberland, built following the Norman conquest, and renovated and remodelled a number of times. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:Alnwick...
thus Stanwick Park was always a secondary residence. The 1st Duke furnished the interior of the house with many works of art including paintings by Canaletto
Canaletto
Giovanni Antonio Canal better known as Canaletto , was a Venetian painter famous for his landscapes, or vedute, of Venice. He was also an important printmaker in etching.- Early career :...
. As a secondary seat the house was often allocated to a Dowager Duchess of Northumberland. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the house served as a military hospital. Following the end of the war it remained empty. In 1918 on the death of 7th Duke of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland
Henry George Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland KG, PC, FRS , styled Lord Lovaine between 1865 and 1867 and Earl Percy between 1867 and 1899, was a British Conservative politician...
his heirs became liable for large death duties as a consequence in 1922 8th Duke of Northumberland
Alan Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland
Alan Ian Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland KG CBE MVO TD was the son of Henry Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland and Lady Edith Campbell....
sold the estate. The house was demolished in 1923.
For many years, previous to World War I, the house had been the residence of the widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
of the 4th Duke of Northumberland
Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland
Admiral Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland KG, PC, FRS , styled Lord Algernon Percy until 1816 and known as The Lord Prudhoe between 1816 and 1847, was a British naval commander, explorer and Conservative politician.-Background:Northumberland was the younger son of General Hugh Percy, 2nd...
, Eleanor, Duchess of Northumberland. The Duchess lived for 40 years at the house until her own death in 1911. She became so attached to the estate that she chose to be buried in the village church, which she had rebuilt by Salvin
Anthony Salvin
Anthony Salvin was an English architect. He gained a reputation as an expert on medieval buildings and applied this expertise to his new buildings and his restorations...
, rather than the Northumberland vault
Burial vault (tomb)
A burial vault is a structural underground tomb.It is a stone or brick-lined underground space or 'burial' chamber for the interment of a dead body or bodies. They were originally and are still often vaulted and usually have stone slab entrances...
in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. During her occupancy of the house the gardens were expanded and developed, these included an Italian garden also designed by Salvin. During this period the gardens were renowned for their glass house
Glass House
The Glass House or Johnson house, built in 1949 in New Canaan, Connecticut, was designed by Philip Johnson as his own residence and is a masterpiece in the use of glass. It was an important and influential project for Johnson and for modern architecture. The building is an essay in minimal...
s producing, what at the time were considered, rare and exotic fruits such as bananas, peaches, grapes, figs and nectarines, some varieties such as the "Stanwick nectarine" were propagated and bred on the estate. The "Stanwick nectarine" was introduced to the United Kingdom by John Barker
John Barker (diplomat)
John Barker was an English diplomat and horticulturist.-Diplomatic career:Born in Smyrna on 9 March 1771, Barker was educated in England...
.
The interior of the house contained many fine 18th century features, before the demolition some of the decorations and motifs were removed. Three of the rooms were removed completely and are today believed to be those re-assembled in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is a fine art museum located in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on a campus that covers nearly 8 acres , formerly Morrison Park...
. Comparisons with the extant photographs of the house interiors cast doubt upon this, and the links are doubtful; the director of the institute visited Alnwick in the thirties to check on the provenance - no record seem to exist of his ultimate findings. A firm called Robersons in London were in this business. It seems possible that since there were 22 rooms from different houses being traded, of which only three were offered from Stanwick, there may have been an error. Museums in Roslyn, NY, and Toronto, as well as the collection of William Randolph Hearst are also alleged to have Stanwick rooms.