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C AS TL E-H OWARD, 



YORKSHIRE, 



THE SEAT OF THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF CARLISLE, 



CaSTLE-HOWARD is situated about sixteen miles to the north-west of "Old Ebor," in the North 

 Riding of the county of York, and the parish and hundred, or, as it is called, wapentake of Bulmer. 

 The site was for many centuries occupied by a castle named Hindershill, or Hinderskelf ; portions of which 

 were erected in the reign of Edward III, by the Barons Greystoke, co. Cumberland, whose property it 

 then was. Leland supposes the term to be derived from its situation at the junction of the wapentake 

 of Bulmer and Rydale. Camden, however, has this passage relative to the place — " At Hindershill is a 

 fair quadrant of stone, having four toures builded castle like, but it is no ample thing. The latter part 

 of it seemeth to have been made by the Greystoke, whose lands the Lords Dacres now have. The 

 park is four miles in compass. The name may be rendered hundred hills, or the hundred well ; and it 

 is called by some Hundred-skell, from the number of springs there." Numerous springs of water still 

 exist in the immediate locality. 



The old Castle, the distinct origin of which thus appears uncertain, was accidentally burnt down at 

 the end of the 17th century. 



The erection of the present magnificent building was commenced on the site of the old Castle, in 

 the year 1702, by Charles, third Earl of Carlisle,* who was then Earl Marshal of England, from a 

 design of Sir John Vanburgh. Although it is named Castle- Howard, there are no features of a 

 castellated character in its construction. In style it partakes of the Corinthian, the principal fronts 

 being ornamented by ranges of pilasters of that order. The centre, terminating in a handsome cupola, 

 is supported by two wings which constitute, to the south, a frontage of 323 feet. The approach at 

 this point consists of a grand flight of steps, from the summit of which the prospect is of the most 

 beautiful and varied description, and richly deserves the general praise awarded to it. In its pro- 

 minent features, the mansion resembles Blenheim House, near Woodstock, by the same architect ; but 

 it possesses a longer line of frontage, and differs materially in other respects. The interior is of a 

 highly-finished and magnificent description, and contains a collection of works of art, princely and noble 



* The Earldom of Carlisle was first conferred on Baron Harcla in the time of Edward II ; from 1323 to 1G22, the title lay 

 dormant, when James I revived it in the person of James Hay, first Viscount Doncaster, whose son, failing in issue, died in 1660. 



