Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/48

 HISTORY OP BISHOP AUCKLAND. 29 that of the castle, and which haa been compared to that of King's College, Cambridge. A recent writer thus describes it : — " The windows are beautiful, and the numerous buttresses, surmounted with pinnacles, give it an air of great lightness and elegance, which is enhanced by its commanding situation, on the summit of a fine sloping lawn, which descends to the river, and along which a terrace, with embrasures, contribute to the general effect of the whola" We give the following brief description of the interior of the chapel : — The first object that attracts the attention of the visitor, on entering, is a beautiful marble monument, on the right hand side of the outer chapel, by Nollikins, with a Latin inscription to Bishop Trevor. A handsome carved screen runs across the west end, separating the outer from the inner chapeL The floor is of chequered marble ; and two rows of Ught clustered marble columns, sixteen feet high, and surmounted by pointed arches, support the roof The windows are beneath pointed arches, and adorned with stained glass : carved stalls are arranged along the walls, and there are two desks for the chaplains in the centra The decorations of the altar-table, which consist of large candlesticks of silver, double gUt, three feet in height, fabricated with embossed work ; a disc of silver, double gUt, two feet in diameter, upon which is skilfully represented the history of the Lord's Supper ; a chalice of silver, double gilt, with a twisted stalk and cover of the like workmanship ; two patens of silver, double gilt, with inscriptions from Holy Scripture ; the Bible, in English, beautifully bound in a cover of crimson velvet, with plates of sUver, double gilt, and clasps of the same workmanship, in large foUo ; the Liturgy of the Church of England, beautifully bound in a like cover of crimson velvet — ^all of which have a very fine effect when viewed from the other end of the sacred edifice, and above which is a painting of the " Resurrection," by Sir Joshua Reynolds. At the west end is a small organ, dated 1688, much admired for its richness of tone. In the centre of the floor, a plain stone, with a modest epitaph, records the death and the burial place of the founder, John Cosin. It appears to have been the Bishop's particular wish that his own body should be the first to be interred in the chapeL In this, however, he was disappointed, for Mr. Davidson, a son-in-law of the Bishop's, dying while his Lordship was in London, was interred in the chapel without his consent, and greatly to his mortification. James Lesly, who is described as " a noble youth," also lies buried within the chapeL In the year 1861, the remains of Bishop ViEiers were interred in the chapel, and in 1868, Miss Baring, daughter of Dr. Baring, the present Bishop of Durham, was also buried thera The following entries are found in the Parish Registers of St Andrew's Auckland, relative to the two former interments : — April, 1672. Reverend in Xto Pater Johannes Epis Dunelmensis Sepulus in CappeM fua AuklandensL Sept. 4. D. JocobusLesleuis, Nobiles Jevenis Sepulus in Cappell^, Episcopali Auklandie. " The Castle of Auckland," says Raine, " is now the sole episcopal residence of the See of Durham ; and when the fabric itself, its splendid chapel, reaching to the Norman times, and its magnificent park, with its characteristic accompaniments of water and rock and wood are taken into consideration, it is well that, amongst all the chances and changes of the Palatinate, it has been the one to be spared." It will be readily gathered from the foregoing remarks that the castle, having received so many alterations and additions from its successive occupants, consists of a number of buildings of various dates and characters. It forms an irregular line of square masses, combining the character of an old EngKsh mansion, with some features of the castellated styla Several portions of the exterior are rich with heraldic ornaments, amongst which may be named the window of the servants' hall, built by Bishop RuthaU ; and that of the dining-room above, which is the work of Bishop TunstaLL That part of the building called " Scotland" was erected by the latter Prelate, and is said to have been so named from its having been used as a lodging for hostages. It was afterwards converted into a granary, but was restored by Bishop Trevor, who also built the suite of rooms on the southern front. Bishop Skirlaw is said to have built a gate-house adjoining the Market-place, which was rebuilt by Bishop BootL A new one Digitized by Google