1841.1 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



277 



ourselves with gathering the following notices in respect to the build- 

 ing. After being wantonly laid in ruins by Lord Hastings, on whom 

 it had been bestowed by Edward IV., the Castle was begun to be re- 

 built in the reign of Henry VIII, by Thomas, first Earl of Rutland, and 

 was completed by Henry, the second Earl, about 1555. It was after- 

 wards dismantled by the Parliamentary forces under Cromwell, and 

 again rebuilt in 1.GG8. Excepting some slight alterations, such as the 

 addition of a picture gallery, made by George, the third Duke of 

 Rutland, about 1750, the structure underwent little change until the 

 beginning of the present century, when the new works were coin- 

 menced in ISOl, and carried on undor the direction of Wyatt till 

 181G, at which time the south-west and south-east fronts were com- 

 pleted, and the grand staircase and picture gallery in the north-west 

 one nearly finished. On October 26th of that year a most calamitous 

 fire broke out,* which consumed the uhole of the north-west and 

 north-east sides, and would probably have extended its ravages fur- 

 ther, had it not been arrested by bricking up the doorway opening 

 from the grand staircase into the Regent's gallery, which, with the 

 chapel, form the south-west front of this extensive pile. Of the pic- 

 tures destroyed we have here a complete catalogue, with the sums at 

 ■which each was valued — varying from iil. to 300U guineas — and those 

 for which each was insured. Among them were a great many family 

 portraits by Sir Joshna Reynolds, and his large picture of the Na- 

 tivity, painted for the centre compartment of the stained glass window 

 in New College, Oxford. 



After this event the north-east and north-west fronts were rebuilt 

 under the direction of the Rev. Sir John Thoroton.t an amateur archi- 

 tect, who appears to have greatly improved upon the ideas of his 

 professional predecessor, notwithstanding that the latter was no other 

 than the " celebrated" Wyatt. One very material improvement on 

 the original plan, both as regards external appearance, convenience, 

 and internal effect, adopted by Sir John — is the grand entrance in the 

 north-west front, consisting of a spacious advanced carriage porch, 

 connected with the building by a short corridor forming an approach 

 to the vestibule or "guard-room;" whereas, previously to the fire, 

 there was nothing, wnatever of the kind — no sheltered intermediate 

 space, but visitors entered immediately from the open air into the 

 vestibule. 



" It would be tame language," says Mr. E., " to speak of the present 

 entrance (merely) as an improvement. Nothing can be in better 

 taste than the porch with its lofty doors, its pointed arches, its ogee- 

 shaped canopies with finials, and the cloister-like entrance." "The 

 porch, entrance-passage, guard-room and gallery, were all designed by 

 Sir John Thoroton from portions of Lincoln cathedral. The entrance- 

 passage is lighted by eight windows (four on each side), between 

 which shafts rising from flowered corbels, form the support of moulded 

 ribs on the vaulted roof." 



Judging from the plans, we should imagine there must be a striking 

 degree of effect in the view through the arch facing the entrance, 

 into what is called the Guard-room Gallery, formed by a screen of 

 arches on a higher level, it being in fact the first landing, off from 

 which lies the grand staircase. For want, however, of more exact 

 explanation, and of either view or section, it is difficult to compre- 

 hend so clearly as we could wish to do, what, owing to the difference 

 of levels, is rather a complex and intricate part of the interior. We 

 may, therefore, express our regret that none of our graphic "Illus- 

 trators" and view-makers, should have thought proper to satisfy our 

 curiosity relative to Belvoir. The most that any of them, we believe, 



' -*' Hjw the fire originated, could, it seems, never be discovered — probably 

 because those who could have cleared up the mystery chose to keep their 

 own counsel. For somi> piquant remarks on the subject of such " accidents," 

 we may refer our reailcrs to an article in the last No. of the Polytechnic 

 Journal, entitled the British Museum and its Library," where the writer 

 indulges in some pleasantry on the py^ophobia — the excessive horror of fires 

 and candles exhibited by the managers of that national institutinn — which 

 is such that it induces them to close the reading rooms very long before sun- 

 set, during several months in the year. 



If not as a preventive against fire, at least as a means of checking its pro- 

 gress, we would suggest that in all very extensive residences, particularly 

 where the entire pile consists of distinct masses and part^, there should be 

 exceeding] thick internal party walls between the ditterent ranges of rooms, 

 so that the fire could not spread beyond that portion of the plan where it 

 might happen to break out. Were this done, not only would there be com- 

 paratively little danger, but also less alarm and confusion in case of fire, as 

 the inmates would feel themselves in safety in other parts of the building. 



t This gentleman, who was rector of Bottesford, adjoining Belvoir, from 

 1782 to 1820. (in which ye.ir he died at Belvoir Casde, Dec. 18ih, in his 62nd 

 year,) and who was knighted by George IV. uhen Regent, deserves to rank 

 high among those who have cultivated the study of architecture. "One half 

 of the present Castle," says Mr, Eller, " and certainly the most henutiful por- 

 tion in an architectural point of vieiv, was erected chiefly from his designs 

 and under his superintendence." 



have done, is to give us one or two general views of the Castle, but 

 from such points as rather to exhibit its locality, the general charac- 

 ter of the structure, and the various masses of building composing it— 

 as seen rising above the lofty trees embosoming it — than to show 

 what its architectural design really is. This is the case with the 

 view (the north-east front), which serves as the frontispiece to the 

 present volume. Greatly do we desiderate a distinct architectural 

 view of the entrance and corridor connecting it with the building; as 

 likewise of another representing that portion of the south-west front 

 which forms the exterior of the chapel, and which is spoken of as 

 being of " purely perpendicular character." 



" it has some good features about it," continues the writer, "es- 

 pecially in the parapet above the arcade in the basement story, which 

 formed no part of the original design by Wyatt, but was added by 

 Sir John Thoroton, in imitation of a portion of the parapet in Lincoln 

 Cathedral. The windows are of elegant proportions, and harmonize 

 well with the general character and intention of the building. We 

 might, perhaps, have wished that the embattled parapet of the two 

 towers had been of a rather less gossamer character, and that more 

 substantiality had been imparted to the pinnacles. But, upon the 

 whole, the architecture of the chapel forms an exquisite break upon 

 the general plainness of this part of the Castle. It comes upon the 

 view so unexpectedly, and contrasts as effectually with the remainder 

 of this front, as the little cultivated spots which we meet with in the 

 surrounding scenery, when, after passing through the dense foliage of 

 gigantic trees, we suddenly arrive at an open area, wliere the tasteful 

 skill of the floriculturist has been at work." 



We return again to the interior; but, referring to the work itself 

 for descriptions of the several apartments, and of the paintings and 

 other works of art they contain, shall merely enumerate some of the 

 principal rooms, adding their respective dimensions. From the upper 

 landing of the grand staircase, any of the following rooins may be im- 

 mediately entered. The Picture Gallery (over the Guard-room gal- 

 lery, and the ascent to it), the Regent's rooms (over the Guard-room 

 or Vestibule), the Regent's gallery, an Ante or Waiting-room, beyond 

 which is the principal library. 



Picture Gallery G1.10'x25.8' and 31.5' high, lighted from above by 



a series of windows fitted with ground glass. 

 Regent's Rooms. — Sitting-room •.j4.6'X20.9'. 

 Bed-room 24.6'XIS. 



Dressing-room 21 X 17.9'. 

 Regent's Gallery, 13 1X17. S', or, including the semi-circular bay, 

 (35.9' in diameter, and containing five windows) 35.8'. Height 

 18.2'. The folding doors at the S. W. end open into the 

 tribune of the chapel. 

 Ante-room, 30.4' X 2 1.6' with a single window towards the inner 



court, but lighted principally by a lantern in the ceiling. 

 Library, 47X23.9' and IS high; with four windows on the side 



towards the inner court. 

 Grand Corridor, extreine length including the staircase on that side 

 of the building, 120x24. Though called a corridor, the propor- 

 tions and dimensions of this thoroughfare room entitle it just 

 as well to the name of Gallery ; and it is in fact occasionally used 

 as a ball-room. 

 Green or Assembling Room, 27X24, and 17.6' hig-h. 

 Chinese Rooms: Setting Room 29x22. 

 Bed Room 26X17. 



Dressing-room 26xf7. 

 Ehzabeth Saloon, 55x36, and 20.10' high. 



Grand Dining-room, 55X31, and 19 high. Five recesses, viz. one 

 at each end, and three on the side opposite the windows, with 

 two fire-places between them. 

 Hunters' Dining Room, 21x 17. 

 Family Dining Room, 34x21. 

 This last is one of the suite of private apartments in the S. E. front; 

 above which is another suite, occupied by the late Duchess; the 

 principal one, a boudoir, 22.4'X19.6', exclusive of the oriel window, 

 which adds 6-3' more to tlie length of the room, and which commands 

 a most delightful prospect, where "the eye, passing over the foliage 

 on the terraces immediately below the Castle, is refreshed by a beau- 

 tiful expanse of water, immediately beyond which is rising ground 

 covered with plantations. The village of Woodthorp, in the valley, 

 a little to the left, with the spire of its simple church, is sufficiently 

 distinct to form a sweet feature in this scene of rural repose. At a 

 more remote distance, the magnificent mansion of Mr. Gregory (at 

 Harlaxton), forms a terminal point for the eye to rest upon near the 

 horizon of the landscape." 



Here we must take leave of Belvoir — not because little more re- " 

 mains to be spoken of, for we have not even mentioned one principal 



