|
|
|
|
A PAST STUDENT'S TOUR OF THE CASTLE
By
Mrs Bee Wickens (nee Beasley), Senior Historical
Advisor, Friends of Elvaston
You all know of EIvaston Castle and, more
than likely, the running battle to decide its future, the
furore and public feeling it has stirred up against the
Derbyshire County Council, willing to let one of the few
national, historic edifices close to the capital of the
county (Derby), be desecrated and sacrificed to satisfy
the whims of a monied minority to spend their extended
leisure, basking in up-market hotel luxury.
You may have taken the occasional tours of
the house, being ably conducted via the splendour of the
gold canopied and pillared Gothic Hall of the Fair Star,
through the Drawing Room, or rather, what was known in
past days as the "Withdrawing " Room, which
used to boast a fireplace round which one could cosily
sit and mull over the day's activities, or sit and read
on the window seats and drink in the calm beauty of the
long cast lawn and distant "ha-ha", bounded by
tall conifers, with a blissful corner view of the lake
and willows, overtopped by long-shelved branches of one
of "Capability's" Cedars of Lebanon. You would
note the more ancient style mullioned window to the right
as you entered, knowing that this was an example of the
original house of 1633.
Passing through the far corner door, into the
library, your attention would be drawn to the interesting
fireplace, displaying the Harrington coat-of-arms. And of
the two other exits, one was to the far end, an oak
panelled billiard room and, to the side, access to the
wonderful, while marble staircase, the largest
unsupported, cantilevered, lanterned staircase in England
if notin Europe! The stairwell is also spacious and
benefits from plenty of natural light from the lantern
structure that forms a centrepiece, railed round by a
decorative wrought iron surround in the top floor central
Orchid Room which, with boarded floor aiding the
circulation of warmth, bore a boiler which truly
expounded the meaning of the phrase "Central
Heating". Thus used for growing exotic flowers like
of orchids though, in our student days, it became the Art
Room due to light either end.
The wide marble stairs were in three turning
sections leading, firstly, up to the niche where Venus
romped with the dolphins, turning to traverse a few steps
at right angles to turn left again to teach the lop
landing and admire the massive marble statues of the
Three Graces, (which three of my friends disgraced
themselves by dressing in pyjamas. What they dangled from
the crystal chandeliers I will not say. Suffice to remark
that the Matron was not amused). The balustrade made this
landing almost a balcony from which to gaze on those
between and below, including the portraits up the side
wall. These, of course, in the past, were members of this
prestigious family, but replaced for our benefit, so it
was to Sir Walter Raleigh I paid respects as I paused lo
bid him "Goodnight" for, his portrait so
reminded me of that famous picture of Christ entitled
"The Light of the World".
Then, with a further wistful glance of
appreciation, taking in the beauty by which I was
surrounded, I turned from the entrance to the large
luxury 'Morning Room' and 'Lady Harrington's Bedroom',
that bedded about five students in each and, turning
left, passed into the corridor leading to the servants'
quarters. Along the polished light wood floor, past other
fine family and guest bedrooms, which accommodated around
four students in each and had famous names like
"Chippendale", to negociate the far barer, more
austere further fights of worn, stone steps to the top
floor, where I had the governness's bedroom, next to the
Nursery (don't envy the children of the aristocracy; they
were often bundled off vvell out of the way!). Mind, we
had central heating radiators and I had pretty pale green
velvet lined curtains left for us by the family.
Now, no longer welcoming, I found my room
piled with junk and the walls in the passage stripped to
the brickwork but, as we often see on TV in shows like
"I Want That House", it is amazing what a bit
of determination, "elbow grease" and a few of
the right materials & even make-shift tools, can do
to put things right without a fortune to back! I should
know as I've seen it done "before my very eyes"
to absolute broken down ruins at home and abroad, and
have a daughter and son-in-law on the look-out at this
very minute! The pictures they have sent us, have left me
appalled! "Impossible", I cannot begin to tell
you except that they make Elvaston Castle look in perfect
condition!
Thus, I say again that the neglect and
dereliction can be put right comparably easily in the
upper reaches, as the lower floors continue to give
pleasure and activity, raising necessary funds to rectify
the rest. Before terminating our tour, however, I vvill
mention the parallel passage to our nursery, one, where l
and my room-mate were compensated for its austerity by
only having to share with one other and also having a
vievv of the clock tower, which gave us extra minutes
each morning.
However, our counterpart, on the other side
of the Orchid room, though similarly sized, had more
attractive views, and allocated to tutors, thus we rarely
trespassed. However, a room at each end is of extra
interest as the one immediately off the balcony over the
stairs was allocated to four students who, if they needed
the toilet in the middle of the night, had a lone and
scary troop down below stairs and along the outer kitchen
passage to almost the back exit of the property - an
almost unenviable situation! On reflection, it occurs to
me to wonder why they did not use our facility, just down
the passage, through the Orchid room and down circa four
steps?
Well, this begs another question: were they
more scared of that route then the longer one? because
the atmosphere in that area was distinctly spooky! It
meant coming almost to the door of that Linen room of
which I spoke on the subject of ghosts, where a maid is
rumoured to have suffocated her new-born babe and
ever-more haunts, suffering from her guilt. I had to pass
this room also but, so enjoyed my moments on the balcony
(flat roof) leading from the Orchid room to overlook the
lake, exciting at night as the mists rose from the water,
and the cock pheasants raucously registered their
prescence, that I did not worry until it was dark and
chill and I was scared to return, which I had to do - in
a rush!
However, to return to the tutors passage
where, at the far end, stout Miss Codd had the most
intriguing, charming little bed-chamber, such a waste, I
always thought! It was wood panelled, with a low secret
door hidden in the panelling. I just had to see it, so,
one afternoon, when we knew they had all gone into main
the college in Derby, and "my lot" (infant
trainees taking a subject, like "Music &
Movement", which did not depend on specialised
equipment, and could be equally well conducted in the
Gothic Hall) vvere between activities we,
conspiratorially, went to investigate. Miss Codd could
never have got down that low door, lot alone through it,
poor dear, but we all did, to discover thatt it went down
to the back passage behind the stairs, where the
Principal had a couple of rooms for her fortnightly
visits to check all was running smoothly.
I am sure she looked on these as her happiest
moments as she would bring her adored little scottie dog
and stroll by the lake. Once, as l sat high up in
"the ruins", a seat in a rock alcove, atop of
little steps up from the far side or the lake where now
is the children's Adventure Playground, with a super view
of the house and the, then, Water Tower with the church
tower showing between, I heard a sudden screech of an
animal in pain ! As I shaded my eyes from the bright
sunlight, I saw elderly, prim Miss Hawkins suddenly start
to run from the way she had just come, then noted her
little dog struggling as if caught up in brambles or
something.
There followed an anxious few minutes as she
bent and struggled with something and bravely extricated
her trapped pet from what I learned later were the jaws
of a viscious little weasel. Such was the mettle that
these dedicated maiden ladies were made of. I have seen a
platform full of well begartered and cushioned bishops
and other officials of the clergy, virtually quake and
melt, file ice-cream puffs, as she has taken centre
stage, and we had no doubt that she would have,
similarly, put her life 'on the line' to save one of us!
Like our beloved castle, the memory of great ladies like
her should not be allowed to die!
My 2nd year at Elvaston came about due to a
vacancy in one room, for which I was given first chance,
as I had expressed to the Principal my love of Elvaston,
when due to move into Derby with other students. A great
example of her fair-mindedness, despite a hint of
insubordination, and a lesson to stick to your principles
even in the face of what might seem insurmountable
opposition!
Back to Top
|
