Derbyshire (England) -- Antiquities; Derbyshire (England) -- History
Another romantically placed house is Bolsover Castle, which is
mentioned in ancient records as a sister stronghold of the Peak Castle.
Of the early building nothing is now left; but the sites of the keep
and of the enclosing wall are curiously preserved, and occupied
by highly interesting buildings of the early seventeenth century.
The keep is replaced by a square house, planned with considerable
ingenuity so as to obtain within a limited and strictly defined
space the customary arrangements of a Jacobean residence. It rises
abruptly from the brow of a steep hill, and looks far and wide over
the valley now studded with colliery chimneys. Within the thickness
of the wall which marks the _enceinte_ of ancient times are contrived
quaint chambers, carefully vaulted and furnished in some cases with
curious chimney-pieces. Indeed, this early seventeenth century work,
particularly in the successor of the keep, is quite remarkable in
respect of its vaulting and its fireplaces. Vaulting was very seldom
used in Jacobean work, yet here we have examples of that method of
construction which need not fear comparison with those of earlier days,
when masons were much more accustomed to its use. The chimney-pieces
at Bolsover are a noteworthy series, exhibiting a great variety of
treatment, yet preserving a family likeness, and adorned, most of them,
with unusual delicacy. This part of the castle was executed for Sir
Charles Cavendish, a son of the renowned Bess of Hardwick, about the
year 1613. The actual owner of Bolsover was Gilbert, seventh Earl of
Shrewsbury; but he had granted a lease of 1,000 years to Sir Charles,
who was at once his step-brother and his brother-in-law.
[Illustration: Bolsover Castle: “La Gallerie.”]
Outside the ancient precincts of this part of the castle stand the
ruins of a later building, lying parallel with the brow of the hill,
and leaving a broad terrace between the building and the sloping
ground. It is designed on a much larger and coarser scale than its
neighbour, and was built by Sir William Cavendish, son of Sir Charles,
about the year 1629.
It was this Sir William, subsequently created, after a distinguished
career, Duke of Newcastle, who wrote a celebrated treatise on
horsemanship, some plates of which he adorned with a view of his
Bolsover building. This he calls “La Gallerie,” and it was probably
intended as a supplement to the somewhat restricted accommodation of
the earlier house. The Duke was also responsible for another charming
portion of this interesting group of buildings at Bolsover, in the
shape of the Riding School, a structure which has a considerable Dutch
flavour about it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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