THE BUILDERS OF BELVOIR 



apprenticeship under Shaw was Will Head, who afterwards 

 made a name for himself in Cheshire. Goosey's first year of 

 office was marked by the first great misfortune which marred 

 the hitherto splendid prosperity of the fifth Duke. Ever 

 since the year 1801 the Castle, as we know it now, had been 

 gradually growing up, and the progress of its building had 

 been a continued source of interest to the long series of distin- 

 guished visitors whom the Duke and his Duchess received 

 there. Now a great part of the completed work was de- 

 stroyed by fire, and in the Times of October 29, 18 16, we 

 find the following account of the catastrophe. 



Extract from a private letter in an evening paper. 



"Grantham, Sunday Morning, 

 10 o'clock. 



" Little doubt now exists that the fire began in the car- 

 penters' room, and thence communicated to the painters' 

 apartment, where there was a considerable quantity of oil, 

 turpentine and other inflammable materials. All the family 

 had retired to rest, and were awoke by some inhabitants 

 of the nearest village, who first discovered that part of 

 the Castle was in flames, but the fire had even then got to 

 such a height as to preclude the possibility of saving the old 

 part, which is now nearly burned to the ground. Much alarm 

 was entertained for the new building, as the flames forced 

 their way up the grand staircase and were with great difficulty 

 prevented from extending their ravages farther. The Gran- 

 tham troop of yeomanry cavalry arrived at the Castle at four 

 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and were of infinite service in pro- 

 tecting the valuable articles which lay scattered about in all 

 directions. The Duke and Duchess arrived from Cheveley 

 about half-past eleven last night. 



" To these particulars we can add the following : The 

 property of Belvoir Castle, we learn, was only insured for 

 ;;^40,ooo. The paintings alone are estimated at a value of 

 twice the sum. Some of the most valuable pictures of the 

 inimitable collection were fortunately preserved, and above 

 all no lives were lost. The whole of the ancient structures 



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