INTRODUCTION

The history of Raby Castle dates back to the Middle Ages. During that period, there was no standardized spelling and historians, when writing about the great northern lords of Raby, Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, and the Wars of the Roses usually spell the name ‘Neville’. And therefore, I will do the same. However, the senior surviving line of the medieval House of Neville is that of the Marquesses of Abergavenny. From the sixteenth century onwards, they increasingly spelled their name ‘Nevill’. Christopher Nevill of Eridge Park in Kent is the current Marquess of Abergavenny.

RABY CASTLE AND THE NEVILLE STRONGHOLD

In 1378, the Bishop of Durham gave John, 3^rd Baron de Neville, Lord of Raby, a licence to fortify the building. Much of the castle you see today, dates from this period.

In late 1423, Cecily Neville, youngest daughter of Ralph Neville of Raby and Joan Beaufort, was engaged to Richard, Duke of York. This linked two powerful families together thereby strengthening the family’s political position.

However their marriage carried a much deeper significance. Richard had inherited a large fortune and through his mother, Anne de Mortimer, a claim to the English throne. Anne was a direct descendant of King Edward III and had died giving birth to Richard at just 20 years old.

Although Richard and Cecily stayed outwardly loyal to King Henry VI, their family became central to the conflict that became known as the Wars of the Roses. This was between the House of Lancaster (symbolized by a red rose) and the House of York (symbolized by a white rose). Eventually in 1461, Henry VI was overthrown and Richard and Cecily’s son became King Edward IV.

In 1569, Charles Neville took part in the Rising of the North, an attempt to replace Queen Elizabeth I with her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. As Raby Castle was the campaign’s headquarters, Charles was forced into exile and his land at Raby was confiscated by the Crown.

RABY CASTLE AND THE VANES

In 1626, Raby Castle was bought by Henry Vane the Elder, a courtier of King James I. Under Charles I, Henry became a member of the Privy Council and Secretary of State. Raby Castle remains in the Vane family today.

Henry Vane’s eldest son, Henry Vane the Younger, joined the Puritans in Massachusetts where he was elected Governor in 1636 at the age of 23. On his return to England, he became a leading Parliamentarian and a champion of religious freedom. His unconventional attitude was thought too dangerous and he was executed by Charles II.

During the Civil Wars, the castle was twice under Royalist siege but held out on both occasions.

A bitter family feud broke out in the 18^th century. 1^st Baron Barnard and his wife Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the Earl of Clare, were furious when their eldest son Gilbert was intent on marrying a commoner. Wanting to destroy all of Gilbert’s inheritance, his parents instructed two hundred workmen to strip the castle of its contents, cut down the woods and slaughter the deer.

Undaunted, Gilbert and his wife Mary took legal action. The couple won the dispute and Gilbert’s parents were ordered to pay for everything to be replaced.

When Gilbert’s father died in 1723, Gilbert began landscaping and replanting the Park. Throughout the eighteenth century further improvements to the castle and grounds were made. Various architects were involved including Daniel Garrett (see Wallington Hall), James Paine (see Chatsworth) and John Carr (see Harewood House). Carr was also responsible for designing the stables.

In 1833, William Harry Vane, 3^rd Earl of Darlington was made Duke of Cleveland. The Duke was a keen sportsman while his wife’s love for natural history saw the creation of a ‘most curious museum’ in the Baron’s Hall.

On William’s death in 1842, his three sons inherited the estate in turn. After the death of 4^th Duke, Raby passed to a cousin, Henry De Vere Vane, who became 9^th Baron Barnard – the dukedom died out.

In 2016, Harry 12^th Lord Barnard inherited Raby with his wife, Kate. This marked the beginning of an exciting transformation of the estate.

THE GARDENS

The first records of the gardens date back to the 1700s. An early plan shows an orchard and kitchen garden on the north-facing slope outside the gatehouse.

Following the advice of the landscape gardener, Joseph Spence, the village of Old Raby was moved c1780. Spence argued that the south-facing aspect made it a perfect site for the Walled Garden.

Lady Anne Monson, daughter of Henry Vane, 1st Earl of Darlington, was fascinated by botany and the study of plants. Her expertise was recognised by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus who named the genus ‘Monsonia’ in her honour. She was first married to Charles Hope-Vere of Craigiehall and had two sons before the marriage was dissolved because of the birth of an illegitimate child. No details of the father are known. She later married Colonel George Monson of Lincolnshire. As part of the Indian militia, the couple spent most of their lives in Calcutta. It is said that Lady Anne helped James Lee in translating Linnaeus’s Philosophia Botanica.

During the 1800s, various fruits were grown in the Walled Garden including strawberries, peaches, grapes, pineapples and mushrooms.

The 4th Duchess of Cleveland was also a keen gardener. She wrote in 1870: ‘What a study they are!  Some of their great leaves look as if they were moulded in lustrous bronze; in others the eye plunges into the deepest, richest green depth sand folds of velvet; some are lined with a crimson down, or spotted with gem-like pink tears; some pure white, with delicate network tracery of green – innumerable varieties of beautiful combinations of colour!’

During the first and second World Wars, the Walled Garden was used for growing vegetables and fruit. The site was later re-designed for leisure.

Lady Sylvia, the 10th Lady Barnard was also a keen gardener with a particular love for herbaceous borders.

This love of gardening continues in the Barnard family today.