Raynham Hall

Raynham Hall is a country house in Norfolk in the UK. It is over 300 years the seat of the Townshend family. The property was named after the surrounding area that is known as The Raynhams. It is reported to be haunted in the house and here was probably the most famous ghost photo of all time, on which the famous Brown Lady descending the staircase of Raynham Hall. But the spirit is rarely seen since the establishment. The most famous resident was Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend ( 1674-1738 ), who led a decade of British foreign policy. The building stands since November 30, 1951 as grade I- monument is listed .. Raynham Hall is now owned by Charles Townshend, 8th Marquess Townshend.

Architecture

Raynham Hall is one of the most beautiful stately homes of Norfolk. The construction was begun in 1619 by Sir Roger Townshend and was in the style of the first of its kind in England. Had perhaps due to the three-year Grand Tour undertaken by Sir Roger Europe, Raynham Hall was built in a then brand new style, in which the native tradition was abandoned and planned in the Italian style. Raynham could therefore easily be mistaken for a house that was built almost a century later.

Attachments

The construction of Raynham Hall was started in 1619 and there is evidence that it was designed by Inigo Jones. Later extensions and interiors were designed by William Kent. Charles Townshend commissioned him for the north wing of Raynham and design of the interior. William Kent was later one of the architects of the nearby Holkham Hall. Numerous works of Kent are seen in Raynham, especially the intricately carved chimneys, mosaic paintings and decorated doors. Famous is the impressive and beautiful ceiling in the Marble Hall with the motif of Lord Townshend's coat of arms.

Painting

Many beautiful portraits still adorn Kent's magnificent rooms in Raynham. In addition to its black -and-white marble mantelpiece in the Princess ' Room a painting, which probably a sketch for the famous Van Dyck Portrait "Children of Charles I. " depends is. By 1904 there were many more images in Raynham, including several family portraits by Kneller and Reynolds. The most famous and most valuable was " Belisarius " by Salvator Rosa, which was a gift from Frederick William, King of Prussia to the 2nd Viscount Townshend. Its value was estimated at £ 5,000 in 1804, but had been sold a hundred years later for £ 273.

The current owner of Raynham Hall is Charles Townshend, 8th Marquess Townshend.

Legend

In 1713 married Charles Townshend Robert Walpole's beautiful sister Dorothy. She was his second wife and there were rumors that she had previously been the mistress of Lord Wharton, " whose character so infamous, and his pleasing subservience to women so notorious, that no young woman could spend under one roof with him 24 hours without certainly lose her reputation. " The legend says that when Townshend discovered that his wife had committed adultery with Lord Wharton, he locked her punishment in her rooms in the family residence Raynham Hall and never again allowed to see their children.

Lady Townshend was buried in 1726. But according to tradition, they did not die this year and the funeral was a fake. Instead, it was rumored imprisoned by her husband in the house. Therefore, in the twilight is the spirit of "Dolly" Townshend, the " little brown lady Raynham, " still his favorite place of the oak staircase of the house.