PREVIEW
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Headline: Spring Clean Before Opening Of Newby Hall, North Yorkshire
Caption: Monday 25th March 2019 Picture Credit Charlotte Graham House reopens on the 30th March after a winter shutdown Picture Shows Sam Craven and Trish Sidebottom, Mother in law and Daughter in Law, take part in the pre opening Cleaning in the Billiard Room No other room at Newby underlines the contrast between Georgian and Victorian life in the house so forcibly as the Billiards Room. It now contains portraits and relics of the Vyner family. Chief among them is the picture of Sir Robert Vyner and his family by John Michael Wright, the original of which was exhibited in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Sir Robert, the leading goldsmith of his day, was commissioned to remake the regalia destroyed by Cromwell, for the Coronation of King Charles II in 1661. Excellent replicas of the regalia he made are on display in the Entrance Pavilion. On the side table is a circular portrait of Lady MaryÕs youngest son, Frederick, who was murdered by Greek Brigands in 1870. It was as a memorial to him that his mother commissioned William Burges to build the Church of Christ the Consoler in the park. Dining Room The Dining Room was designed in 1807 by the 3rd Lord Grantham around some furniture from his fatherÕs house, the other Yorkshire Newby now known as Baldersby Park, near Thirsk. He copied the frieze from one drawn by his father for that house in 1785, and the chair rail relates to the vine leaf pattern on the two side tables, and the pair of pedestal vases. Lord Grantham re-used three of the alabaster urns with lamps in them that Robert Adam had designed for the niches in William WeddellsÕ dining room (now the Library); but he had them repainted to match his fatherÕs urns. These and the set of chairs were made by Thomas Chippendale for William Weddell. The chairs are similar to those at Harewood House and Nostell Priory. The colour for this room, redecorated in 1980, was taken from an original drawing by Lord Grantham, and found in an old folio by the current ownerÕs mother, Jane Compton. Tapestry Room Here, in what had been the entrance hall of the original house, Adam created a drawing room specifically for William WeddellsÕ set of Gobelins tapestries which he ordered in Paris in 1763. One of only six sets made for English patrons they are now the only set remaining in its entirety in the setting for which it was made. The subjects, ÔThe Loves of the GodsÕ were from designs by Franois Boucher, the favourite painter of Louis XVÕs mistress Madame de Pompadour. Woven under the management of Jacques Neilson, they were delivered in 1767, travelling to England in the French AmbassadorÕs diplomatic bag in order to avoid import duty! The entire room, completed in 1776, has a coherent design scheme: the English Axminster carpet and ceiling were both designed by Adam and Thomas Chippendale was commissioned to provide the sofas and chairs, designed to fit around the room under the tapestries. They are the only pieces of Chippendale furniture known to have retained their original upholstery and covers. Statue Gallery Although John Carr of York was the architecture for the south wing, Robert Adam fitted into it his greatest creation at Newby, the Statue Gallery: two square rooms with a central rotunda, in the style of a Roman house. AdamÕs concept for this sculpture gallery can be traced to his sketches of Roman ruins at Tivoli and to the influence of ClerisseauÕs drawings and PiranesiÕs archaeological plans. He also designed the pedestals, plinths and stove cases which conceal a heating system. Entering from the Library (then the dining room) Weddell and his friends enjoyed the sculptures by lamp and candelight, which must have made them look as if they were in an ancient temple Ð which was the desired effect. Weddell is thought to have bought his entire collection from the dealer Thomas Jenkins in Rome. NewbyÕs is probably the finest collection of Roman statuary in private hands in Britain; it consists mainly of a mixture of Roman pieces from the first century BC to the second century AD, with a few eighteenth century copies. Whilst it is clear that many have been heavily restored and even completed, this was a perfectly acceptable practice in the eighteenth century. WeddellÕs passion for classical sculpture led to nineteen chests of sculpture being transported to Yorkshire. To him and his fellow collectors the statuary symbolised refined taste and noble, classical virtues. The Library In William WeddellÕs day this room was the dining room. Robert Adam designed the original decoration in 1767-9 in French grey, black and buff colours, and the richness of the plaster shows the work of Joseph Rose. The ends of the room are apsidal with impressive columns, their Corinthian capitals crisply carved in wood. In the western apse stands the fourth Adam alabaster urn, originally intended to cast light over a carved sideboard; the other three urns are in the Dining Room. The 3rd Lord Grantham made the room into his library in 1807 and later generations have kept it that way. The French commode under the alabaster urn is of the Louis XV period, as is the bureau-pl‰t in tulipwood and kingwood between the windows. On either side are early nineteenth-century library steps and a rosewood library table. Above the fireplace on the overmantel stand a charming French clock inscribed Ôdu TertreÕ, two Meissen plates, and four Chinese bottles Newby opens for the 2019 Season 30th March-29th September www.newbyhall.com info@newbyhall.com For more information go to www.newbyhall.com For any further information, please contact Louise Scott Marketing Manager Newby Hall and Gardens 01423 320412 louise.s@newbyhall.com Notes to editors Newby Hall is one of Britain's finest Adam Houses. Built in the 1690s by Sir Christopher Wren, it was later enlarged and adapted by John Carr and subsequently Robert Adam. The Hall is lived in and owned by Mr. & Mrs. Richard Compton Attractions at Newby Hall include Adventure Gardens, Gardens, Miniature Train, The Brandreth Bears and the Dollshouse Collection. Tickets for entry into Newby Hall and Gardens are £13 for adults and £10 for children (under 4Õs go free) on the day or £12.75 adults and £9.75 children if bought in advance. The admission price includes entry into the gardens, including the adventure playground, Bear House and ÔOur DollhousesÕ exhibition. For more information go to www.newbyhall.com. Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5AJ. Telephone: 01423 322583.
Keywords: News,Cleaning,North Yorkshire
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