3.3 Map Progression

3.3 MAP PROGRESSION The following map progression focuses on the Walled Gardens and stables area. It presents dated and undated maps for completeness, offering observations on potential dates and commentary on features to assist in our understanding of the history and development of the area. This section represents the first time, a photographic record of the Raby Castle archival materials such as maps and plans has been made available for readers to corroborate assessments of phasing. The order of images within the document does not claim to be absolutely accurate but has nonetheless provided enough information to date individual structures to within decades of construction. Where assumptions are made, these have been identified as such as any gaps in knowledge are identified and stated within the text. An emerging research framework has been provided in Section 6.3 of this Conservation Plan.

1729 These dated plans are of the estate as surveyed by George Dixon in 1729. They show Raby village (left) and on the adjacent plan, the Castle with moat, prior to its landscaping. Orchards and gardens are to the north-east and west of the castle on the north facing slopes. The field marked 20 is a similar shape to the present walled gardens which has led to the assumption that this plot was later adapted on the south-facing slope.

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Estate Plan by George Dixon

UNDATED Shows a design for a ‘new stables’ and ‘offices’ to the north-east of the castle. Raby village is laid out on the north side of the road. A kitchen garden is shown to the north-west, and north of this are ‘cart houses and stables in the town’. The plan is likely to have been drawn before the 1750s when it is assumed the gardens were laid out.

Undated design for new stables and offices N

C.1750 The Walled Gardens are believed to have been laid out during this period. An undated and unsigned plan, which may date to this period, shows the basic plan form and other features which are evident today. Hot walls are incorporated in the design but only a short stretch in the north wall. The north and south walls were made of locally hand-made bricks. Areas for melons and pineapples are indicated, with green houses and hothouses in the centre of the back wall. Three ponds or basins are shown, of which the central pond still exists – the others may not have been constructed. The main entrance to the Gardens was in the east wall. There is no indication that the yew hedges were part of the plan.

In the west gardens, where the Gardener’s House stands today, is a ‘Magazine’, whilst the gardeners house is located in the east garden. This may have been an unexecuted design, but the presence of a Magazine was mentioned in the estate account books at this time.

Undated Plan of the Walled Gardens thought to be by Thomas Wright or Joseph Spence. N

UNDATED (ASSUMED 1770s) Assumed by Alistair Rowan to be c.1749,01 this plan shows the proposed Raby to Staindrop road in its present location. The road was diverted by Act of Parliament in 1771, suggesting the plan is later than assumed, but before Raby village was removed in the 1780s. The gardens are formally laid out, with an oval fountain or pond in the central garden overlooked by a rectangular building with an irregular shaped yard behind. Other buildings shown are an ‘L’ shaped structure in the location of the hunting stables, and the Gardeners House. Note that the Stable and Coach house is not shown. An earlier form of Raff Yard (a maintenance yard) is shown beyond the village.

Undated map of ‘Raby Castle with Part of the Park’ N

01 A Rowan, The Gothick restoration of Raby, Architectural History 15: 1972

1812 The estate is recorded in a map by John Dixon (with dated amendments). The Walled Gardens are shown with the existence of two linear structures along the north wall. A smaller version of the Gardeners House with associated out building is also in place. The Raff Yard, stables and Coach House, hunting stables, the hay barn, and a smaller Raby Park House are also shown, as is Byre House and barn. The Riding School is not shown. The orchard is a feature of large areas of the complex.

Detail of John Dixon’s plan of Raby Estates from 1812

UNDATED MAP OF RABY (ASSUMED 1830S) This detail of plan thought to date to c1830 is a schematic plan of the wider estate and less focused on the Stable Yard and Walled Garden. The Riding School and a range of buildings to the east of Raff yard are not shown. Note the Gas Pipe to Raby Castle, which was installed in 1850 from a newly established gas works. The gas house does not yet appear to have been constructed.

Undated plan of Raby Estates, possibly 1830s-1850s.

TITHE MAP OF THE TOWNSHIP OF RABY CUM KEVERSTON, 1839 This dated plan of 1839 shows an important addition since John Dixon’s 1812 plan. The hay barn is shown again and a Riding School has now been constructed north of the coach house range and additional structures attached to the south are shown. These are not depicted on any other plans. Of a little less significance, the piggeries have been added to the yard north of Byre House.

Plan of Township of Raby cum Keverston, 1839 N

PLAN OF THE TOWNSHIP OF RABY CUM KEVERSTON, 1842 Separated by only 3 years, the 1842 plan is less schematic than the John Dixon and the 1839 Tithe Map and shows additional changes to the site. Buildings are shows along the north wall of the gardens, whilst many more outbuildings are indicated in the yards behind. Raby Park House has received a westerly extension and Raff Yard, its eastern projection. To the south of this is an extension to the rear of the cattle byre attached to the Dutch barn. For the first time, the paths of the Walled Gardens are shown, and what may be the yew hedge is suggested in the central garden. The Fig House also makes its first appearance and the Gardeners House has a rear projection to the west.

Plan of theTownship of Raby cum Keverston, 1842 N

1856 ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP, PUBLISHED 1860 The Ordnance Survey Map, First Edition, is believed to be an accurate record of the site from this period. Although surveyed 14 years after the previous plan, it shows many subtle differences. Of note are the addition of glasshouses, and possibly the pinery, in yards north of the Walled Gardens. Gardens have replaced the orchard to the west of Raff Yard, and a new range of buildings has been constructed along the north wall of the complex. A new pathway is shown in the West Walled Garden and the Gardeners House has a further extension to the rear on the east side.

1856 Ordnance Survey Map N

Detail of gardens and stable yard complex, 1856 N

UNDATED PLAN This undated plan is of the Walled Gardens and stables area probably dates to the latter half of the nineteenth century, but before the 1896 OS Map. However, the plan is problematic; whilst is shows some buildings as conceived in the later nineteenth century, such as the Gardeners House with is extensions, the large number of glasshouses, the extensions to the byre east of the Dutch barn, and extension to Raff Yard, are missing from this plan. It is possible the plan is incomplete, or that the draftsman was unconcerned with the yard (here described as ‘Raft Yard’). Another explanation, though unlikely, is that the buildings were demolished and reconstructed in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The yew hedges are clearly shown, along with paths laid out within the gardens.

Undated plan of the latter half of the nineteenth century. N

UNDATED DRAINAGE PLAN, C.1890 A drainage plan from c.1890 usefully depicts the names and uses of various buildings with the stables area. The Riding School is labelled as the ‘Riding Shed’. The cottage in Raff Yard is labelled ‘Office’ and the barn north of the Gardeners House is labelled ‘Bath House’. The stables to the north-east of the stables and Coach House is labelled as a Byre, with a Slaughter House to the south, and Calf House and Bull House to the northern end. Drawn up by North Eastern Security Inspection Association of Newcastle Upon Tyne, the business was incorporated in 1889. The lack of the motor garage shown on later maps indicates this plan was drawn up before the 1896 OS map was surveyed. Detail of the building uses shown on this plan are articulated on the Historic Uses plan on page 85.

Sketch Plan of Drainage (south to top of plan) stables and Outbuildings, Raby Castle (nd)

ENVIRONS OF RABY CASTLE, 1893 BY W LIVESEY, CLERK OF WORKS The estate was recorded again in 1893. Although there is little obvious change between this and the undated drainage plan, this plan provides additionally information about the layout of the Walled Gardens and of the wider complex, including building uses. Of particular interest is the design of planting within the Central Walled Garden. These historic uses inform the plan on page 85.

Detail of Environs of Raby Castle, 1893

1896 The Walled Gardens and stables area is again captured by the Ordnance Survey in 1896 (published 1897). The 6-inch map provides more detail than the earlier plan of 1856 but shows relatively few major changes have taken place in the intervening years although various outbuildings have been extended or added. Of note, however, is the addition of the Motor House, without its glass canopies. The new entrance and pathway within the south wall which had been installed in 1894 is shown.

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1896 Ordnance Survey Map. Ordnance Survey (c) Crown Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Licence number © Crown Copyright and Landmark Information Group Limited 2018 all rights reserved. This map may not be reproduced without permission. 21772465 100020449 Detail of 1896 Ordnance Survey Map showing the gardens and stable yard complex. Ordnance Survey (c) Crown Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Licence number 100020449

OS County Series: DURHAM 1:2,500 1897

1914 The Ordnance Survey Map of 1914 shows only minor changes within the Walled Gardens and stables area, the largest change being the introduction of a further access point into the complex from the west, which is not shown on the 1896 OS map. A number of small glasshouses have been added, the glass canopy has been built against the Motor House. Raff House has been extended and has glazed porches to main entrance and kitchen door, and a conservatory or glasshouse against the south elevation. Additional tree planting is indicated to the east of Raff Yard and within the grounds of Raby Park House.

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Detail of 1914 Ordnance Survey Map showing the gardens and stable yard complex. Ordnance Survey (c) Crown Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Licence number 100020449

1975 During the twentieth century there was no significant new buildings added to Walled Gardens and stables area. Rather, it saw the gradual decline and loss of structures including the Victorian conservatory which has since been replaced with a smaller example.

The 1975 reflects the opening of Raby to the public with the addition of public conveniences north of the piggeries.

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Ordnance Survey Map showing the Castle gardens and stable yard complex. Ordnance Survey (c) Crown Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Licence number 100020449