in the North-Eastern Counties. 121 



seats. I have, therefore, resolved to send you a short descrip- 

 tion of some of the most magnificent of them, thinking that they 

 may not be uninteresting to some of your readers. 



Lambton Castle, the seat of the Earl of Durham, an elegant 

 Gothic edifice by Bonomi, is situated on a sloping bank close to the 

 river Wear, six miles from the flourishing town of Sunderland. 

 The principal drive emerges from the great turnpike road be- 

 tween Durham and Newcastle, and passes over three miles of a 

 well-wooded park. The other approach leaves the Sunderland 

 road close to a bridge where the road to the town of Chester le 

 Street crosses the Wear. This, although the shorter drive, is 

 by far the more picturesque one ; as it winds over a lofty surface. 

 The river, before arriving at the castle, is crossed by a splendid 

 stone bridge of one arch ; the four corners being surmounted 

 with the figures of four lambs cut out of solid stone. After 

 leaving this bridge, the road winds up a valley, over which there 

 is an elegant chain bridge which connects the pleasure-grounds. 

 The principal view is from the south side of the castle. A 

 spacious terrace extends the whole length, from which, casting 

 the eye over the machicollated wall (which is 20 ft. above and 

 20 ft. under ground) to the deep expanse below, the lambs may 

 be seen sporting close to the banks of the river with the tide 

 flowing past, and the banks on the opposite side rising to a 

 stupendous height, well clothed with old timber, and backed 

 with an extensive deer park. Artificial borders for hardy and 

 half-hardy shrubs and climbing plants occupy a considerable 

 space along the south front, and are seen with fine effect from 

 the terrace. 



The pleasure-grounds extend almost a mile to the west, 

 through the middle of a wood that overhangs the river. There 

 is a flower-garden, with a conservatory and banqueting-room ; 

 and, at a small distance from this, a piece of enclosed ground, 

 occupied with pits and frames for the propagation and preserv- 

 ation of plants. The whole of the grounds, which are kept in 

 excellent order, are under the management of Mr. Younger, an 

 able and experienced florist from London. 



The kitchen-garden is half a mile to the east of the castle, 

 and is approached by various walks leading through coppice 

 woods appropriated chiefly to the preservation of game. The 

 garden comprises eight acres ; four of which are enclosed in the 

 form of a square, on a declivity close to the river. The hot- 

 houses stand upon a terrace fifteen yards wide, and occupy the 

 whole extent of the north wall. In the centre is a superb green- 

 house with pine stoves, vineries, and peach and fig houses at 

 each end, making a range of 500 ft., besides a range of pits and 

 frames in a slip on the east. From the terrace walk, in front of 

 the hot-houses, the view over the garden is superb. In the 



