party at a rich dude's house

School of Architectural History field visit to Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland today, yay!

Our driver decided to park the bus right in front of the house.
So this is stolen (wiki), just to show the full Seaton H effect sans bus.

The house was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh
and built 1720-8 for Admiral George Delaval.


The architectural theorists had a ball with this tower.


It has a bunch of doors opening up to nowhere.
That's because there was almost certainly a lost wing here.


Heading around to the south front.


Gorg.


And the view.


Play.


The men of the family were supposedly cursed.
One of them died after being pushed down these steps.


Stripey tower.


Oh hey, cupids.


Apparently these little porthole windows were designed
for the retired admiral to look out and pretend he was still at sea.


Looking at the west side, with garden maze.


The Delavals were also fond of violent statues.


More jardin.


Private.


Gorgeous coat of arms on gateway arch.


More violence.


Then we entered through the north front.


The place was almost entirely gutted by fire in 1822.
It was roofless for many years and exposed to the elements.


Some statues in niches remain in the grand entry hall.


The beautiful fireplace suggests the luxury
of the place before the fire.


I love the floor.


And a memory is all that is left for you now.


The grand south-facing room.


If you look closely you can see
a white horse out the window.


Horses and obelisk.




The staircases are probably the architectural highlight.


Clutter in a tower room.
Hidden skull on gravestone.


Danger.


Looking down into entry hall.




Best wallpaper ever in one of the rooms
that escaped fire destruction.


We decided they were probably peacocks.


Graffiti.


Orange-y pink wallpaper with purple paint?
Yes, please.




Looking downstairs towards the cellars.


And looking up from the cellars.


Exploring the creepy cellars.




Cool door with punched initials FBD
(Francis Blake Delaval) and hearts, 1753.


Relaxing for a bit on the portico.


Then onto the amazing stables.


They were built in the mid-1700s and used until 1822.


The names of the horses on the estate
in 1822 survive above each stall.






Chance and Prince.


For my American lovelies, this does not stand for Roosevelt.
It's for Francis R. Delaval.


Quel highlight.


Then back outside,
and across the courtyard to the west wing.


This wing is where the last member of the family,
the Baron Hastings, lived until his death in 2007.
The property was then bought by the National Trust.


Yellow gallery.


And it was all yellow.


Found a painting of my man Henry VIII.


And of his daughter Elizabeth I.
I haven't come across this exact portrait type before,
so this one's exciting.


Also: random letter from from her to the Delaval brothers, 1595.


And her seal. Difficult to see but shows her
enthroned with crown and sceptre.


Back outside; last look under blue skies and fresh sea air.


Did I mention that this place is on the coast?
This is the view of the sea from the front, lovelyyyyy.
xx