HAREWOOD HOUSE, 



YORKSHIRE. 



THE SEAT OF THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF HAREWOOD. 



J1AREWOOD is situated in the wapentake of Skirack, and west riding of Yorkshire, about nine 

 miles to the north of Leeds, and eight miles south of Harrowgate. The manor before the Conquest 

 was held of the King by three Danish Chieftains, " Tor, Sprot, and Grim," and shortly afterwards was 

 granted to Robert de Romeli, whose only daughter, Cecilia, carried it in marriage to Ranulph de 

 Meschines, Earl of Chester, who thus became Lord of Harewood. From this time till it came into 

 the possession of the present noble family early in the last century, the property passed through 

 numerous hands, and the Castle, demolished during the wars of Charles I, the ruins of which still exist, 

 is supposed to have been erected by Sir William Aldburgh, in the reign of Edward III, on the site 

 of one built about the year 1160. In the church, which is an ancient and handsome edifice, are 

 several monuments of the Ruthvens and Redmans, successively lords of the Castle, and of the Gascoignes, 

 of Gawthorpe adjoining; one of whom, Sir William Gascoigne, who lies buried here, is renowned in 

 history as the intrepid judge who committed Henry V, when Prince of Wales, to the King's Bench, for 

 insulting his official character ; which act led the King to " thank God for having given him a 

 judge who could administer, and a son who could obey justice." 



Harewood House stands on a commanding eminence in a park of nearly 1,800 acres, and was erected 

 about the 3 r ear 1760. It is a rich specimen of Corinthian architecture, composed of a very fine 

 description of stone taken from a quarry near the spot. Sir Charles Barry made great improvements 

 in the original mansion about seventeen years ago, and there are now but few places of so magnificent 

 a character in the county. The principal entrance is from the Leeds road, through a noble gateway, 

 and the carriage drive, three quarters of a mile in length, is flanked by numerous remarkably fine 

 specimens of oak and beech trees. 



The gardens and pleasure-grounds were originally laid out by Browne, but since his time they have 

 undergone extensive alterations, and even now some parts are being remodelled and enlarged. " The 

 Parterre," the subject of our plate, is from a design by Mr Nesfield, and presents a beautiful example 

 of decorative scenery, enclosed by characteristic shrubbery and the grand leafy masses of ancient woods. 

 This noble garden, occupying the south side of the house, is approached by handsome flights of steps, and a 

 terrace " divided by a line of ornamental baskets filled with the choicest and . most effective plants. It is 

 four hundred and fifty feet in length, and one hundred and thirty feet in width ; with beds of various 

 designs laid down on gravel, box-edgings to the minor and stone borders to the principal walks. 

 Three fountains of carved stone, by Raymond Smith, add to the general effect of this well-designed 

 and beautiful spot. The pleasure-grounds, which extend to a fine lake of thirty acres, contain many 

 excellent specimens of rhododendrons, auricarias, several choice varieties of Coniferae, and others of a 

 general character. 



The kitchen garden, consisting of about ten acres, is situated some distance from the mansion, and 

 divided into three parts by double brick walls, about fifteen feet high, over which are trained numbers 

 of well-established apricot, peach, pear, cherry, plum, and other fruit trees. The ranges of pine-pits, 

 vineries, stove, and other houses, are both extensive and of excellent construction, the latter containing 

 a large and valuable collection of plants. One of the vineries is occupied entirely by a remarkable vine 

 of the old Tokay class, which was planted in the year 1783, and in 1839 required a house seventy 

 feet in length by twenty-six feet wide, for the development of its sturdy branches. It is still in 

 vigorous condition, and produces an extraordinary quantity of fruit annually. Harewood is also celebrated 

 for the number and variety of its figs, which are grown in pots. Early and most bountiful crops are 

 secured by this plan, the fruit being ready for table about the middle of March. A very creditable 

 attention appears to be paid to the management of these gardens, and their magnificent character is a 

 source of much gratification to great numbers of visitors generously admitted to view the grounds 

 every Thursday, by permission of the Earl of Harewood. 



